More Precious Than Gold

Between The Olympics
More Precious Than Gold

Did you watch the Winter Olympics held in Italy last year? Are you already looking forward to next year’s Summer Olympics in China? The Olympic games are always an emotional time for the competitors who have been training for many years just to have the opportunity to be one of the chosen few who will represent their country. Their fellow countrymen are also excited about the prospects of their athletes who have become known through the national competitions that have taken place. Thousands have trained until the few outstanding competitors have won their place on the Olympic Team. We are usually surprised as the games unfold, and can only marvel at the high quality of each one as they perform in the sport of their expertise.

We at home, in countries around the world, watch the games on TV and comment with all the authority of “armchair judges,” on the qualities and performances of the athletes from the participating countries. It’s easy for us to criticize and suggest reasons why a competitor made a mistake or failed in some way, and so missed a place on the winner’s stand. But really, we should be the last to make negative comments as we ourselves find it hard to even get out of bed sometimes, let alone excel in some sport. We forget that the athletes have been training for many years, giving up many normal social activities, eating healthy foods, and strenuously working out in order to attain their purpose. They give up a lot because their focus has been on one goal – a gold medal and the fame that goes with it!

It is truly a great honor to be among those who have won the gold, and the winners surely deserve it after all their sacrifice as they prepared for glory. What about you? Do you think there is something in life for which you would make such a sacrifice? Is there something so worthwhile that you would give up what you consider to be a “normal” sort of life in order to have it?

The Bible says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Cor. 9:25). The writer is saying that temporal things will not last, that our lives pass by so quickly that it is better to prepare for the life to come, because after this life comes eternity. Yes, there is something more precious than gold!

The apostle Paul had to face this same issue. He had lived a privileged life with the best education, good family, and financial stability, but still there was something missing in his life. He excelled as a student, was fanatically religious, and his ethics were unquestionable, but finally he had to admit that there was something much more valuable than all that. He said, “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the Church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:4-8). Paul met Jesus one day, and his life changed forever!

There is nothing to compare with knowing that we have peace with God, that our sins have been forgiven, and that a place is assured for us eternally in heaven. We can only have that peace with God when we repent, confess our sins to God, and then accept the Lord Jesus into our lives as our Savior and Lord. Rejecting God’s offer of salvation will only lead to eternal death and damnation in hell. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Rom. 6:23).

Jesus loves you so much that He was prepared to die in your place and take the punishment you deserve; but you need to accept the gift offered or you will miss out on the prize of eternal life. Accept this gift today – it’s much more precious than gold – and you’ll be a winner for eternity!

By Ian Taylor