The Olympic motto is: ‘citius, altius, fortius’. It means ‘faster, higher, stronger’. This is what motivates every sportsperson. They all want to improve their performance, especially those taking part in the Olympic Games who hope to win a medal. Think of the time and energy they spend preparing themselves for the supreme event! The competition is fierce, and not everyone can win. Only the very best go home as champions; others are disappointed despite having had the honour of representing their countries.
The glory of Olympic champions does not last for very long. At the London Olympics of 1948 the Dutch athlete, Fanny Blankers-Koen, won four gold medals—just like Jesse Owens in Berlin in 1936—but who remembers her now? Since her day other athletes have won even more medals. They have been honoured in their turn, but even they have disappeared from most people’s memories. Today’s fans have other idols.
The older we get, the slower—not the faster—we become. But time itself seems to slip away faster and faster. That is what makes it so necessary to take advantage of the present time and put our trust in the one person who enjoys everlasting glory: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who died on the cross to open the way for us to come to God. On the third day after His crucifixion He rose from the dead, and 40 days later He ascended to His God and Father to be made ‘higher than the heavens’ (Hebrews ch. 7 v. 26). There He was crowned with glory and honour for the work of salvation He had accomplished for us.
When Jesus was here on earth, He spoke of a strong man who guarded his palace with his weapons. He was referring to Satan, the devil, the enemy of our souls, who tries to stop us following Christ and keep us under his power by inducing us to sin. But then Jesus spoke of Himself as the One who is ‘stronger than he’ overcoming the devil (read Luke ch. 11 vs. 14-23).
We are all subject to death as a result of sin: ‘the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans ch. 6 v. 23). Jesus died so that ‘through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil’ (Hebrews ch. 2 v.14). The only way to heaven is to accept Jesus as our Saviour! Whoever refuses Him is like one of those ‘also-rans’ from the world of sport who will be forgotten forever. At the judgment seat of Christ, after death, he or she will hear those fateful words, ‘I do not know you’ (Matthew ch. 25 v. 12) and be banished to eternal punishment.
Would you have imagined the Olympic motto could have a personal, spiritual application to you? Those who love and follow the Lord Jesus look forward to His return so that they will be with Him in heaven all the faster! Then He will raise them to a place ‘higher than the heavens’ to be with Him forever. And while they wait for that moment, their faith grows stronger as they follow and serve Him. Don’t let this opportunity of salvation pass by and miss out on that everlasting glory God wants you to enjoy.
4 pages
105 x 148mm
Chapter Two
Bible Version: NKJV
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