More Precious than Gold

Christin Ditchfield

This year thousands of athletes from almost every nation on the earth will be heading to the most prestigious athletic competition in the world--the Olympic Games. There the world's best will compete for the love of the sport, the honor of their country, and the hope of "immortality"--the chance to write their names in the history books and be forever remembered for their outstanding achievements.

In their quest for superstardom, these athletes face many challenges. They devote their entire lives to training for competition. They sacrifice time with friends and family in order to concentrate on developing their skills. The costs of coaching and equipment can be astronomical. The intense pressures of competition are physically and emotionally draining.

Finally the day arrives. After all the dreams, all the sacrifices, all the hard work, it comes down to a few brief moments--sometimes seconds. With the whole world watching, they put everything they have into what they hope will be the performance of a lifetime. There can be only one winner, one person in first place. For every gold medalist who tastes the thrill of victory, there are hundreds who experience the agony of defeat. For them, the disappointment can be devastating.

The few who do win gold can be in for some disappointments of their own. Fame and fortune are fleeting, and the thrill of victory doesn't last very long. Today's heroes quickly become yesterday's news. Reporters stop calling; endorsement deals end. Younger, stronger, more talented athletes will soon break all the records the previous champions worked so hard to set. The greatest athletes in the world come to realize that making Olympic history does not bring the "immortality" they hoped to achieve.

An Olympic gold medal doesn't bring unending peace and happiness. It can't prevent loneliness and failure in life. It won't shield anyone from hurt or disappointment. A medal cannot fill the emptiness and longing of the human heart.

Many Olympic champions have discovered that there is something far more precious than a gold medal. Something more exciting than the thrill of victory, more satisfying than setting a world record. Something that brings deep joy and lasting peace and true immortality: a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Our sins, our pride, and our selfish ambitions not only bring guilt and heartbreak; they separate us from God. They keep us from experiencing the love and peace and joy that He longs to give us.

The Bible tells us that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin and reconcile us to God. His death and resurrection make it possible for us to receive the incredible gift of eternal life. If you want to receive this gift and experience a love relationship with God that will never end, pray something like this:

Dear God, I realize that I am a sinner and that without You my ambitions will only lead to disappointment. I believe that Jesus died for my sin and rose again to life so that I could have a personal relationship with You. Please live in my heart and help me to desire Christ above any earthly success.

© 2002 - 2006 Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
Translated by permission of Good News Publishers
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