Ask an Olympian, who trains long, tortuous hours, and then a freak accident, one moment, changes his life. Ask the spectators, who watch mesmerized as a parade of athletes, in "medaled moments," overcome difficulties beyond imagination. And though some win the prize, others win our hearts. Olympians are monuments of courage--examples to enduring life under pressure. Role models for our kids, triumph for the human spirit.
Heroes. They're flashed on TV screens across the world these days. But I grew up hearing about heroes of another world--if they walked out of the pages of the Bible today, onto the Olympic arena, would the crowds applaud? Would their spiritual heroism be media-blitzed around the world? They are unsung heroes in mainstream society today, but deserve the medals of honor never awarded them in real life.
Now I know they will not like the Atlantic traffic; they'll be completely puzzled by the press, the pizza, and the peculiar people of the 90s. But these men are truly Olympic champions--"medaled men" because of "medaled moments" that will last an eternity. Those moments are recorded in God's Olympic Record, the Bible. Let's find a seat in the stands and view the events!
DAVID IN THE VALLEY...See David, the shepherd boy of the psalms--he's in the valley, ready to take on Goliath, giant of the enemy. With wholehearted courage, refusing to wear the king's armor, he steps forward, marches into the valley, and meets the giant head-on. And then it's heads-off for the giant, taunter of God's chosen people. David proclaims,
"Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. (1 Samuel 17:45 (KJV)."
With swift, undaunted courage, he conquers the foe. David, shepherd boy of the Psalms, who would not wear the king's bronze armor, stands tall to receive the bronze--from every Christian who has gained courage from his example. Whatever foe you face this week, remember, David didn't need the bronze to win the bronze--he had God's power, and so do you!
PETER IN THE MARKETPLACE
...See Peter, bold professor of the faith--he's in the marketplace, ready to proclaim the power of God's grace to a beggar man. The man, sitting in the temple, begging for coins, finds far more. For this servant of God, once a denier of the faith, is now totally committed to Jesus Christ. He knows the man's answer is not in the silver he wants. He has something far more valuable to share. He says,
"Silver and gold have I none, but, such as I have, give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk (Acts 3:6 KJV)."
The man does; Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, stands tall to receive the silver--from every Christian who has read of Peter's commitment to Christ. Whatever marketplace you find yourself in this week, remember, Peter had more to offer than silver, and so do you!
THREE KIDS IN THE KINGDOM!
...See Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, physical specimens of manhood and godliness--they're in the kingdom, ready to refuse to bow to the golden image. They know and love their God too much to compromise principles, to yield to worldly pressures. Their "gold" is literally tested in the fiery furnace, but not before they said,
"..Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us...and he will deliver us...But if not, be it known...that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the gold image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3:17,18 KJV)!
And God did--the Fourth Man in the fire stands with them. They are unharmed and released, a testimony to the God they serve. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, stand tall to receive the gold--from every Christian who has read of their unswerving commitment to God. In whatever fiery furnace you find yourself find this week, remember, the three kids of the kingdom stood firm, and you can too!
Courage, commitment, character--qualities of Christian living that deserve the bronze, the silver, and the gold. Let the heroes of the Bible, in their "medaled moments," inspire you to seize the foe, to share your faith, and to stand tall. You can do it, in the power of the Lord this week. Olympic-style faith for Olympic-style Christians--we WIN, in His Name!
And that's just a word...or two, from my heart to yours!
His Healing Word
"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1,2 (KJV)."
"Lord, the race is long and hard. I'm tired, but I won't quit now. Give me the courage of David, the commitment of Peter, and the character of "those great Hebrew kids." Help me know a "medaled moment" this week, as I "run for the gold," for You and for Your Kingdom. In Jesus Name, Amen."
