The young man barreled into the person seated next to me at the courtside. Obviously in pain, his teammates rushed to help him up and, after a few tense moments, he stood, waved to the crowd, and received a rousing ovation. I was attending the basketball competition for the Special Olympics. My son, who has Down Syndrome, has participated for the past two years. The passion of all the players was inspiring and the intensity was no different than a traditional Olympics competition.
In the world of amateur and professional sports, there are few honors that can equal the opportunity to represent one’s country in the Olympics. As is well known, the three top athletes in each sport are awarded medals, recognized as the best with their athletic abilities. What if there was a way we could honor the will to succeed? Certainly, all Olympic medalists deserve to be eligible to compete in this same category. I also have no doubt that all of the young men and women, participating in this Special Olympics, deserve to medal.
We all struggle with sin. All true believers in Jesus Christ want to successfully defeat our sinful natures and triumph. Yet, in spite of our best efforts, we often fail. The Apostle Paul lamented his continual struggle with his sinful nature.
And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Romans 7:18-19 (NLT)
We don’t want to do what is wrong, but we do it anyway. This sounds familiar. Paul’s plight is our plight. No matter our best effort, we still fail. What is the solution? Paul gives us the triumphant answer.
Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Romans 7:24-25 (NLT)
Satan hates God all who believe in Him and will use every nefarious means to convince us that we are still slaves to sin. It is not a competition that occurs every four years, or even every year. At every moment of the day, we are in a deadly competition with sin and Satan. It is an Olympics of effort, a competition with our very souls at stake. We strive to conquer sin, but we cannot do it alone. We can only do it through the power of the Resurrection through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. The winners will receive much more than a medal. They will receive the crown of righteousness bestowed upon us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
Praise God!
Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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