Olympic God

Around the world, millions of people are watching the Olympics and cheering for their nation. How does God feel, though? I’m sure God loves the Olympics; he probably loves watching them because people are getting together to show their skills in sports. And God gave them those skills. For a reason, too — to spread the Gospel.

The real question is how do they reach out to people? One: they have to be saved, of course. Two: since they are well known, they can speak to a lot of people and tell them about Christ; they have to take the opportunities they’ve been given. Three: they let the people decide what to believe.

Just today, United States sprinters Kellie Wells and Dawn Harper in the 100m repeatedly thanked God, saying he was good to NBC reporter Louis Johnson after the race, giving God the glory in a great example of this.

All Olympians have at least a few fanatics that will listen to the Olympian they love and adore; those fans can see the truth behind that Christian Olympian’s words. It’s important that we use the power that God has given us, like an interview on TV, to the benefit of his kingdom and glory.

We all know that there are people who want to challenge God, and Christian beliefs, it’s kind of pointless when God is all powerful. The Pharisees in the new testament kept challenging Jesus — and they kept losing.

 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.””      John 8: 13-14 

Those verses show that nothing can challenge God–no Olympian or religious leader. Nothing can challenge God’s power.

Also note that God can do any thing, and he gave the idea of any sport to the guy who created it, and the ability to do it as well. Even if a Christian athlete loses in the Olympics, it’s for God’s purposes, and we all know who wins in the end.

No Fear In Death

Heaven. Many may never see this holiest realm of God’s glory. But I’ll tell you something about this blog. Triple Vertex was founded partially to make sure you’re not one of those people. Death is the price everyone has to pay for sin ( John 3:16), because Eve and Adam ate the apple of the Tree of Life and sin was released into the world (see The Story of Sin).

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”” 1 Corinthians 15:54

We are the perishable and the mortal, and when we die (or Jesus returns) we will be imperishable and immortal. Jesus conquered death and took the blame for our sins. He took the weight off our shoulders, so that we could have eternal life in him (yes, John 3:16 again). He paid the price of death so that we didn’t have to.

Death is difficult, nonetheless. Jesus made it possible for us to be comforted in death, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard. When someone dies, it seems that’s something we have to overcome all over again. But for those who die with their faith in Christ, there is no place for fear. We are sinners, but by the blood of Christ, by his death and resurrection, we are sanctified in our acceptance of him.

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with mennor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

We must sanctified in order to be worthy and holy enough for passage to heaven. That is why we all must be redeemed by Christ, accepting the sacrifice he made in his death, so that we’re sure about ours. It involves only two steps:

If you [1] declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and [2] believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

This verse makes it plain and clear. Believe that Jesus Christ is our Lord, and that he was resurrected for us, and we can be sure of our passage upstairs. This is why there is no fear in death for us–but hope. Death isn’t a pleasant thing, but in our deaths as Christians, we will be more alive than before when we are with the Lord.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15