I'm sure there were many times that Michael Phelps would have loved to go to the showers, and have fun with his friends, instead of swimming laps in the pool. But he knew he had to sacrifice in order to achieve greatness. Standing on the podium to receive eight gold medals doesn't happen by taking an early shower. The gold medals may be won in front of a large crowd, but they are earned by the endless hours of practice. Likewise our rewards in Heaven will be because the hours we spent living for God and being faithful to our Christian walk, often far away from the eyes of others, but seen by God.
Life can overwhelm us, and we find ourselves struggling to live the Christian life. If we start to turn our Christian walk into following a set of ethical rules, we will eventually lose our enthusiasm for Christ. Rules won’t survive the storms of life. We will end up like the Pharisees. Our worship will become routine. The key to overcoming this is to remember God is God, and that Christ was God in the flesh. We don't serve a man-made God. Today different philosophies have become our modern idols of silver and gold. Christianity is a living faith, faith in the risen Lord.
In Ephesians Paul tells us the Sword of the Spirit, is the Word of God. This sword can defend us against Satan, or like a surgeon's knife mend our hearts. Through out history men have tried to ban it, burn it, or modify it, but it stills stands. The Bible is not another library book, but the Word of the Living God. We rob the Bible of its power when we reduce our readings of it to a spiritual exercise. When we open the pages of God's Word we are spending time with God, the Creator of the universe.
Michael Phelps stayed focused; he kept his eyes on the prize. He didn't go through the motions. He looked at the timing of his kick, and stroke. Everything he did was geared to help him become an Olympian swimmer. Our life should stay focused on Christ; too many times we lose our focus in church. The song service is not for visitation, it is for worshipping God. Prayer is not for housecleaning around the pew. It is a time to talk with God. The preaching is not for day dreaming, it is a time to let God speak to us. Church is where we can come to improve on our walk with God.
The Christian walk is a not a nice way to get through life, and then spend eternity floating on a cloud. Christ says that we will reign with him. Being with Christ will out shine any crowns we receive, but it helps to remember that our Christian walk will not end with death. What we do now will have an eternal effect, besides our salvation.
Michael Phelps showed the world what sacrifice and hard work can do. He was a swimmer when he first learned to dog paddle, but he became a world class swimmer through hard work and sacrifice. Every athlete that was in the Olympics was a part of something special. Some were just glad to be there. Others pushed themselves to achieve victory for a cause greater than their selves. Every one that accepts Christ is saved, some are just glad to be a Christian treading through life. They catch a glimpse of grace, and are content with being a Dog Paddle Christian. Others stand in awe of grace, and want to become a living sacrifice. Reach for the gold and let the Gold Medal of Grace shine bright.
