More Than Gold

A couple of weeks ago, so many of us were "glued" to the T.V., as we watched the Olympic athletes amaze us with their incredible abilities. Each gymnast, swimmer, runner, etc. seemed to perform his/her athletic event with such ease. Michael Phelps, who has repeatedly won gold medals, created the illusion that swimming in the Olympic races is easy. However, we all know that it is no easy task to become an Olympic athlete.

I once knew of a gymnast who trained for the Olympics and she put her entire life on hold to pursue this dream. For months, she trained for 8-10 hours per day, giving ultimate sacrifices with a strict diet, curfew and social restrictions. She left her school, her family, her friends and everything familiar to press toward the goal of competing in the Olympic Games.

The apostle Paul had also observed the Olympic Games in his day, for they are nearly as ancient as civilization itself. Paul was what I would consider to be an Olympic Christian. He left all of the comforts of life to do the work of evangelism and follow his calling to the Lord Jesus. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul gives us a beautiful illustration of the life of a Christian who is pursuing his/her goal to know the Lord--everything is a loss compared to knowing Him. In verse 10, he continues to want to know Christ even more, to share in the fellowship of His suffering...Here is what Paul says concerning His relationship with Christ in verses 12-14: "Not that I have obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

In this passage of Scripture, Paul is obviously making comparisons to a runner who is striving toward the finish line to win a race. These verses give me a new perspective about goals, dreams and prizes. When I see the Olympic athletes from the U.S.A. receive a gold medal, and the American flag is raised while the National Anthem is being played, I always get a tear in my eye. However, how much greater will our prize be, when we stand before Jesus face to face to receive the rewards that He has prepared for us. How much greater will our prize be than a piece of metal or a plastic trophy when we fully understand the priceless gift of a relationship with the Lord of Lords who gives us everlasting purpose. Let us look toward what is ahead and press toward the goal to receive the prize (which is much greater than gold) of the high calling of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

More than gold, More than silver,
More than bronze is Your worthy to me...
I press toward the mark of the high calling
Of Jesus Christ Who is the Prize
Of my life...