Commitment is what gets them up every morning long before the rest of us, to train, exercise and prepare. Then, after a full days work in most cases, it is their high level of commitment to achieve their Olympic gold, that gets them out to train in the evenings also. It must be a lonely road in order to prepare properly for these few days of competition, as others may not share or appreciate the single minded devotion to their sport that they must show.
One of the early leaders of the Christian faith, St Paul, urged those who follow Christ to recognise that they also are in a race or are competing to win in life. Winning may not have the glamour of the Olympic podium or win the applause of others, but it will only happen when a life is lived with a clear-cut commitment to a cause outside of oneself. He wrote; 'Do you remember how, on a racing-track, every competitor runs, but only one wins the prize? Well, you ought to run with your minds fixed on winning the prize! Every competitor in athletic events goes into serious training. Athletes will take tremendous pains—for a fading crown of leaves. But our contest is for an eternal crown that will never fade' (1 Cor. 9:24 JBPhillips). Maybe we need a commitment check-up right now?
We have seen the look of utter exhaustion but also of ecstasy on the faces of medal winners as they meet the goal for which they have been training for so long. I wonder what our faces would reflect if we were truly committed to do God's will and serve his purpose in our time? In fact, I wonder what our churches would look like if a majority shared a level of commitment that would not settle for second best? The glint of life's greatest gold beckons us on!
