Olympic Glory
The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Milano Cortina, Italy. As the nations of the world compete for the medal count lead, a number of subplots always emerge. Among the early headline stories this year, 41-year-old American skier Lindsey Vonn attempted to race on an injured ACL but crashed early in the race and had to be airlifted off the mountain after sustaining a complex fracture to her tibia. Teammate Breezy Johnson took the gold medal in the event.
Analysis and eternal perspective: The Olympics form one of my earliest memories, and it is always fun to watch the best in the world compete at both familiar and unfamiliar sports. Side note: Have you ever watched the sport of skeleton outside of the Olympics? No, me either, but it is fun now! There is something about combining athletic endeavors with representing your home country that is extra special!
A crash like Lindsey Vonn’s, however, reminds us how thin the line is between champion and injured, healthy and hurting, and even life and death. Alpine skiing is inherently risky even when in peak physical condition. But the truth is none of us knows the hour or the day of our physical demise (Matt. 24:36). Every day, physical death catches up with unsuspecting people of all ages. It is something we must all be prepared for even if our plan is to live well into the future.
Because more important than the fact that physical death comes for us all is the reality that an eternal existence is for everyone, as well! Jesus Christ came to Earth to offer you eternal life and said, “No one will snatch [you] out of my hand” (Jn. 10:28).
On the other hand, eternal life is an invitation not a coercion. Your God will never force Himself on you, but rejecting Him destines you for an eternity separated from Him (Matt. 25:46).
The distance from gold to devastated is exceedingly thin (Vonn said it was five inches in her race this week). The gulf between your sin nature and God’s holiness is vast and impassable save the cross. The amazing news of amazing grace is that the cross made the way plain—you must only believe in and surrender to the One who died on it.