Making the Olympics -or- Winning the Gold Medal

Every four years I, with the rest of the world, love the spectacle of the Olympics. Some huge world class city goes crazy and spends billions to build these beautiful buildings. They spend years planning the opening ceremony. This year in China was great. Remember the guy running on the side of the roof? I like watching the Olympic march. All the olympians from all the countries parading around the center stage. They are all dressed in something from their country. It's fun.

There are two types of athletes there. Just like there are two types of people everywhere. There are athletes who are glad to be there and there are athletes who want the gold. You can almost tell by looking at them during the Olympic march. Some are smiling and some are sullen and focused. Some are snapping pictures and meeting everyone else. Some are measuring up their opponents. Some skip the march to get prepared for their events.

Jesus came to save us and give us a better life. Some Christians accept the free gift of salvation and are satisfied with it. Some accept the free gift and then ask Jesus, "What's next?" Living in Heaven starts here on earth. Some people wait for Heaven and just get by in life waiting to die and enter Heaven. Others realize that Jesus brought the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and we can live life that way.

Why get baptized to stay out of hell and then waste your life? Why don't some people see the irony with that?

Jesus teaches us to be the light of the world. We are to live in His grace and mercy and live by His teaching. Being the light of the world is active. It's something to look forward to when we get out of bed in the morning. It's the mission that we are all looking for. It's being a part of something bigger than ourselves. It's the light in our life that we are looking for.

Thank you Jesus for bringing the light to us, so that we shine as well.

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