Are You Training for the Gold?

1
Are You Training for the Gold?
2
For What Do They Strive?

• Olympic athletes train very hard for up to 4
  years to excel in their events.
• They sacrifice time spent with family, friends
  and careers in order to have a chance to win a
  medal.

3
The Value of a Medal

• Gold medals at the London 2012 games will cost
  about 700 silver and bronze medals
  significantly less.
• Olympic medals can be purchased on E-Bay, where a
  surprising number of impoverished athletes
  eventually sell their medals for cash.

• Olympic medals for the 2012 Olympic games

4
The Duration of Fame

• The medals award ceremony actually takes only
  about 3-5 minutes.
• The national anthem of the gold medal winner is
  played and photos are taken. Many Olympic medal
  winners are not even known in their own countries.

5
We, also, have a race to run!

• let us throw off everything that hinders and
  the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run
  with perseverance the race marked out for us.
  - Hebrews 121

6
Lets be running to win!

• Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs,
  but only one person gets the prize? So run to
  win!
• - 1 Cor. 924

7
For What Do WE Strive?

• I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
  And I will give to each one of you according to
  your works. Rev. 223
• And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward
  is with Me, to give to everyone according to
  His work. (Rev. 2212)

8
The Crown of Life

• "God blesses those who patiently endure testing
  and temptation. Afterward they will receive the
  CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who
  love Him.
• James 112

9
The Incorruptible Crown

• All athletes are disciplined in their training.
  They do it to win a prize that will fade away,
  but we do it for an incorruptible crown.
  So I run with purpose in every step.
• 1 Cor. 925,26a

10
The Crown of Rejoicing

• "For what is our hope, or joy, or CROWN OF
  REJOICING? Is it not even YOU in the presence of
  our Lord Jesus Christ at His Coming?"
• 1 Thess. 219

11
The Crown of Righteousness

• And now the prize awaits methe crown of
  righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
  Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And
  the prize is not just for me but for all who
  eagerly look forward to his appearing.
• 2 Tim. 48

12
The Crown of Glory

• Be shepherds of Gods flock that is under your
  carenot greedy for money, but eager to serve
  being examples to the flock.
  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you
  will receive the crown of glory that will never
  fade away. 1
  Peter 52-4

13
The Value of a Crownthe Duration of Fame

• If we endure hardship, we will reign with him.
  2Tim 212
• And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of
  priests for our God. And they will reign on the
  earth. Rev 510
• and they shall reign for ever and ever. Rev
  225

14
Where will our crowns be kept?

• The twenty-four elders fall down and worship the
  one sitting on the throne the one who lives
  forever and ever. And they lay their crowns
  before the throne and say, You are worthy,
  O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor
  and power. For you created all things, and they
  exist because you created what you pleased.
  - Revelation 410,11

15
The Final Word

• "Physical training is good, but training for
  godliness is much better, promising benefits in
  this life and in the life to come.
• 1 Timothy 48