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Billions of people will be focused this August on Beijing, China with the 29th Summer Olympic competitions. God’s focus will be on those who believe upon Him and strive for the masteries according to His matchless Word.

II Timothy 2:5:
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

The Greek word for “masteries” in the above verse is athleo where we get our word “athlete.” God uses the example of an athlete who puts his all into obtaining a crown or gold medal. To do so, he must participate according to the rules of the event. There have been competitions that an athlete would win the race, but would be disqualified because he went outside of his running lane.

A believer cannot short cut the principles of God’s Word to obtain proper results from God. He must be dedicated and well trained, not only physically, but well aware of all the rules.

There are other examples in God’s Word with references to athletic competition. In Philippians God makes a point in regard to racing.

Philippians 3:13 and 14:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What a wonderful exhortation! Do not look back to the past, but focus on the finish line ahead. A runner can not be burdened by how he performed in previous events. He has to stay focused on the one he is currently running. So many people carry the burdens of their past mistakes along with them as they move ahead in life. God’s exhortation is forget the past. We have His forgiveness through Jesus Christ His son, so why should we weigh ourselves down with things God has already forgiven and forgotten.

Colossians 1:14:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Psalms:103:12:
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Athletes in the Olympics look forward to winning medals of gold, silver and bronze. What is the “prize of the high calling in Christ,” that the believer presses toward?

The Heavenly Father has placed in front of every born again believer the greatest future anyone could ever dream or hope for. That future is the return of our lord and savior Jesus Christ, who will gather us together to be with him and the Father for ever more (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). We will be given a new body, liken to his resurrected body.

Philippians 3:21:
Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Along with being ever with the lord, we will receive rewards for our believing service to the Body of Christ (I Corinthians 3:11-14). The high calling in Christ far exceeds any expectations of any Olympic athlete.

- Inspired from a teaching by Josh Woods

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