During the month of February, the XVth Olympic Winter Games will be held in Calgary, Alberta, in the foot­hills of Canada's splendid Rockies. Once again, as every four years, not only Canada but the entire world will be treated to a spectacle of sports, fast-paced action, super-suspense, and high emotion. Television will undoubtedly record and transmit every breathtaking moment. The Olympic Games, sum­mer or winter nonetheless, remain an immense attraction, also in their modern version with fine-tuned equipment and record-breaking techniques.

Bringing the Sacrifices⤒🔗

What struck me again in the media coverage during the months leading up to the Calgary Olympics is the lengthy preparation required from each athlete in order to attain the level required for participation in the Games. Many years of arduous training precede the short but fierce Olympic competition. Those who are eligible to compete, have already made tremendous sacrifices. Simply "being there" is a noteworthy achieve­ment in itself.

Most participants have been in­volved in a four-year program which escalated in effort and intensity as the Games drew nearer. The Olympians have trained at every given hour of the day or night, whenever the facilities were available. They have religiously guarded their health with a strict diet and toned their bodies through regi­mented exercise. When the Games come, they have to be at their peak, fully ready.

While many of their peers were enjoying a carefree and lusty time, the athletes mostly led an austere and dis­ciplined life. Everything was made sub­servient to the great goal: winning the Olympic gold, the ultimate prize! For this crown of glory, they sacrificed all time, all money, and all energy. One cannot cross the finish line, much less go to the top, without this extreme sacrifice. Even governments get into the costly act: Canada's "Best Ever Winter Athlete Development Program" has a price tag of $25 million!

Of Wreaths Perishable and Imperishable←⤒🔗

When the apostle Paul traversed the Roman Empire — where also sports and physical fitness were stressed — he encountered many athletes, both pro­fessional and amateur. Being a tentmaker, Paul would sit at the public markets or city squares, and while doing his work, he was able to observe the acrobats and athletes titillate the gath­ered crowds. Paul knew from close observation what it took to get "to the top."

He wrote about this in his first let­ter to the Corinthians, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25). Those who stick out above the crowd have given it their whole effort!

And Paul adds, "They do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." It is clear that earthly wreaths wither and that Olympic gold tarnishes. These people give everything, all time and effort, for that which does not last. But the Christian is seeking an imperishable crown!

The inference is: if the world makes such sacrifices to achieve a perishable wreath, how much more shall Chris­tians strive to receive the crown that does not perish? The world pursues its crowns often in a more sincere and steadfast manner than does the church. In this respect we can learn from the worldly Olympics: to show even greater zeal for an unfading crown!

Training in Godliness←⤒🔗

The life of a Christian is some­times described in the New Testament in Olympic terms as "fighting a fight" or "running a race." To be sure, this is meant in a spiritual sense, the fight of the soul, the race of faith. This is the real Olympics which has an im­perishable crown, the crown of eternal life through Christ Jesus!

In order to participate well in the real Olympics and to run this race successfully, we need training, be it then spiritual training. Paul writes to Timothy, "Train yourself in godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and the life to come" (1Timothy 4:7, 8).

The apostle does not deny the need for physical education and train­ing. It has "some value," as it says in the Revised Standard Version. The King James is closer when it translates, "For bodily exercise profiteth little." The profit of physical exercise is indeed small when one considers that it helps only for this life.

But spiritual training in godliness has value for this life and for the life to come. As much as the world stresses physical fitness and participation, even more must the church emphasize the need for spiritual training. "Train­ing in godliness" means learning how to worship and serve God, to fear Him according to His Word. It means to grow in knowledge of the Truth and in holiness of life.

I wonder how much time we spend watching the worldly Olympics on television and how little time we spend training ourselves in godliness, in read­ing Scripture and meditating upon it, in studying it together at the proper societies. And if we do not train our­selves, we cannot finish the race.

By the Rules←⤒🔗

For every Olympic sport there are rigorous rules. I was struck again by the earnestness of it all. The world takes its sports very seriously. Hun­dreds of officials and referees are ready to make judgment calls at every turn. One must play the game by the rules.

The apostle Paul also made this observation, "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" (2 Timothy 2:5). One can easily be disqualified if the rules are neglected or broken.

Likewise, there are rules in the kingdom of heaven. We must fight the good fight and run the race in God's way, with utmost zeal and full effort. We must abide by His Law, as He has revealed it, or we will be side-tracked and dead-ended. What holds true for the worldly Olympics holds true even more in the real Olympics: it must be done according to the rules.

The world says: let the games be­gin. The Lord says: let the race con­tinue. "...Press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). The prize which we receive is earned not by our effort but through Christ's merit.

Still we must run our race. By God's rules. And so obtain the crown eternal. For Christ's sake and in His strength. This is the real Olympics.