Welcome to Heaven! (Cue the John Williams' "Olympic Fanfare")

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 Posted by Katie

I love the Olympic Opening Ceremony! It matters little to me whether it is the Summer or the Winter Olympics. Both hold the same wonder and awe for me. I am always so amazed at the athletes.

Here are a whole breed of people united by sport. They all come from different nations and cultures, but under the name Olympian, they become a community of their own. They spent their lives putting forth one central priority in their life. They made sacrifices. They endured pain. They learned to push beyond limits. They had great coaches. They had rough days. They had glory days. They loved their game.

All their days led up to one event. The Olympics.

One of the most special parts about the Opening Ceremony to me is that though not all will leave the games with medals, they all walk together...as champions...just for having walked, run, skated, skied their journeys with unwavering commitment.

I see similarities between their connection through sport, and Christians from all over the world united through their belief in Jesus. We, too, come from different nations and cultures, but under the name Christian, we become a community of our own.

However, there will be no medals for us as Christians. There is no gold medal for “best belief in Jesus”. Thankfully, it doesn’t work that way.

We also know that our faith is not about what we DO, but about what Jesus has DONE. Yet, much like these amazing athletes, if we can stay the course and make the sacrifices, endure the pain, push beyond the limits, find a good Coach, stay true through the rough and the glory days alike, and above all, LOVE the One we serve...someday we will march together with the saints of the ages as champions.

(Maybe Heaven’s angels will even play John Williams’ Olympic Fanfare when we do.)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12: 1-3