The Olympics: A Flawed Picture of the New Creation

I am sure a majority of the people around the world are aware that the Olympics are now in full swing. I have to admit that I have a secret sports passion. I absolutely love watching gymnastics. I use to hold season ticket to the UGA Gym Dogs. Yet, I really do not think about this sport much anymore, except during the SEC Championship and every four years when the Olympics flood into every home.

Today I was watching the men's gymnastics and I was overwhelmed by a sense of, how in many ways the gathering of an enormous amount of tribes, tongues, peoples, and nations is a picture of what the new heavens and new earth will be like. Thus, I refer to the Games as a flawed picture. People enamored by the Games often speak of the spirit of the Olympics. Whereas in the new creation people from around the world will be overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of the triune God.

Maybe you have heard a commentator of the Olympics grasping for words to describe the wonder of an event, or a personal story from the Games. Take note at how they will often borrow biblical language such as: Glory (cf. link, link, sermon link).

So when you watch the Olympics think about a future gathering of people from across the world (Rev. 7.9) where the focus is on the True Spirit. While you are doing this be sure to pray for the embedded mission groups who are spreading the Gospel in China during this season. If you can think of or know of any specific ways we can pray for these works please leave a response.

Just think and be moved by the idea of the gathering that is to come.