The Vancouver Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony is just around the corner (February 12, 2010)! Before you know it the “big” torch will be lit and the games will begin!
Several months before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games (summer and winter) a torch is ceremonially lit in Olympia, Greece and then is relayed throughout parts of Greece and then handed off to a representative of the hosting Country (in this case Canada). From there, the Olympic Flame will make a trans-Atlantic flight and arrive in Canada, signaling the start of the 106-day 45,000 kilometer (27,961 miles) Olympic Torch Relay leading up to the opening ceremony.
The flame will be carried by 12,000 torchbearers who each have a brief and personal time relaying the flame. All the torchbearers have one goal in mind and that is to successfully run their leg of the relay so the flame is at the intended end.
The other night I was reading 1 Peter 1:23-25, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
After I read that I immediately thought that it’s my turn to carry the “flame” of the gospel. I’m a “gospelbearer” of the Word of God. Based on this passage the Word of God is going to endure forever but I will not. Think about all the Christians who ran their “leg” in the 1500s, 1700s, 1800s… their “leg” of carrying the gospel is over but the “flame” is still going. Now the “flame” has been passed to you.
So how are you running? Are you keeping the gospel pure? Are you defending the gospel? Are you proud to carry the gospel? Do you take delight in running for Christ?
You only have one “leg” to bear the flame of the gospel of Jesus Christ and then it will be time to pass it off to the next generation.
Praise God for the eternal Word of God. We need more faithful “gospelbearers” who will run well! How are you running?
