GOING FOR GOLD


They preached the good news . . . strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. (Acts 14:21-22, NIV)


There's nothing like training hard, and then reaping the fruits of your labor. A number of stories are coming out of the Beijing Olympics which are bound to find their way into the illustration files of preachers all over the world.

The sheer magnificence of the performance called Michael Phelps, for example. He has won more gold medals than anyone in history and shattered world records in doing so. You can't even begin to imagine the discipline and training to which Phelps has committed since he was a kid. This kind of relentless discipline is a favorite theme of the apostle Paul's, and he uses it to encourage a similar kind of strengthening of our moral will, without which, virtue (meditate on the etymology of that word) is not possible.

Dara Torres, at 41, becomes the oldest winner of a medal in Olympic history. A couple of years ago, she had a baby, and then decided to hit the pool to see what her times would be like. Well, they were great, and you know the rest. A great story to illustrate that you might be wrong if you think it is too late to pursue a dream.

The opening ceremonies. No doubt you wondered, as did I, how the Chinese got 2,500 individual performers out on the field so quickly, and how in the world all of them were able to create the precise effects they did, like the perfect circles, for example. Here is a great illustration about teamwork, about surrendering to the objective of the group, about achieving a great effect when working together, about the humility necessary for harmony.

More stories will emerge, no doubt. The Olympics are a preacher's gold mine. Keep your notebooks handy!

Timothy Merrill


virtue -- c.1225, "moral life and conduct, moral excellence," vertu, from Anglo-Fr. and O.Fr. vertu, from L. virtutem (nom. virtus) "moral strength, manliness, valor, excellence, worth," from vir "man" (see virile). Phrase by virtue of (c.1230) preserves alternate M.E. sense of "efficacy." Wyclif Bible has virtue where K.J.V. uses power. The seven cardinal virtues (c.1320) were divided into the natural (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the theological (hope, faith, charity). To make a virtue of a necessity (c.1374) translates L. facere de necessitate virtutem. [Jerome]

(Online Etymology Dictionary, www.etymonline.com)

GOING FOR GOLD


Have them make a chest of acacia wood . . . Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. (Exodus 25:!0-11, NIV)


You might be surprised to know that the first mention of the word "pure" in the Bible was not in reference to a person's morality; physical or emotional. It was in reference to gold (Exodus 25:11). And not just any gold . . . gold for the Ark of the Covenant. God commanded the children of Israel to take pure gold and build the Ark of the Covenant with this material.

Now, think with me for a moment about gold. Does gold start out pure on its own? Did it begin its existence in purity? . . . No. Gold must be refined.

When gold is discovered, it is usually sent to a mint to be purified. There are naturally impurities in it, like traces of silver or other minerals, that make the gold impure. So the gold goes through a refining stage, usually involving a heat source or furnace to rid the gold of its impurities.

Now think about our purity in relation to gold. When God reaches down in love and pulls us out of the mud, dusts us off and claims us as His own, we begin the purity process. God begins to use methods, heated trials and experiences, to purify us. The more we grow and mature in the Lord, the impurities of our lives come to the surface and are removed by our Heavenly Goldsmith.

Purity is not a one-time opportunity that is either lost or gained -- it is a venture and process that slowly manifests and cleanses. Purity is refining; God purges us from our impurities and disinfects us from harmful substances.

"Many will be purged, purified and refined. . ." (Daniel 12:10)

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Your faith in God is more precious than gold refined -- and if you are losing your faith in Him because of the shame in your impurity, this is deadly to your faith. And it won't result in praise, glory and honor either. Rejoice in your refinement.

If you leave with only one thought from my heart from this post, it is that God is still refining your purity. It is a process just like everything else in your life. Will you still make mistakes? Yes. Will you get back up and cling to God more than ever for His purifying presence in you? That's up to you. Purity, like every other virtue, takes practice -- and it takes patience.

But be confident (have faith) in your God. He is purifying you; He is refining you through your circumstances, your hardships, your "fiery furnaces," your devotion to Him, and your journey with Him hand-in-hand.

He is making you pure as gold.

(www.inlovewithchrist.wordpress.com)

REINVENTING GOLD


Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (Daniel 3:7, NIV)


If you have been watching the Olympics, you cannot help but be awed by the strength, speed, and skill of Olympic athletes. Take Michael Phelps, the phenomenal American swimmer who took gold in event after event. Or Dara Torres, a 41-year-old American swimmer who bested much younger athletes, winning silver.

These men and women have spent years training, strengthening, and perfecting their skills and their bodies. As much as we applaud their accomplishments, we marvel at their effort.

Now, imagine not long from now, watching an Olympic games featuring athletes who never had to train like Phelps and Torres have. Instead, their skills and physique were planned before their birth, enhanced through nanotechnology. The games would be called the "Bio-Olympics," in which competitors have artificially enhanced features, like superhuman strength and speed.

Sound like science-fiction? It's not. Not long ago the President's Council on Bioethics wrote about such a possibility.

We talk often on "BreakPoint" about bioethics, especially when it comes to cloning, embryo-destructive research, genetic engineering, and so forth. But science is bringing even greater ethical dilemmas right to our front doors now.

As my friend Nigel Cameron points out in the latest issue of BreakPoint WorldView magazine, science is moving beyond improving or fixing humanity, to remaking humanity.

Thanks to genetic, robotic, information, and nano technologies - collectively known by the ironic acronym GRIN - mankind is poised for what some call "engineered evolution." Nigel warns that the very technologies that can "help us restore function to the disabled and fight disease, can also be used to bring in the 'Brave New World' - in which what it means to be human, made in the image of God, is fundamentally lost."

Not only will the results of this "evolution" be unprecedented, but so will the speed with which it happens. "Pain vaccines," "memory pills," and "gene doping," which may turn even the scrawniest kid into a Hercules, are being tested as I speak.

But who will enjoy the fruits of such enhancements? As Nigel writes, developments in "blending human nature and machine nature through such means as the implanting of brain chips for memory, skills, or communication . . . could compound both the intelligence and the wealth of a small segment of society." This could lead "to a new feudalism, in which power of all kinds is concentrated in the hands of 'enhanced' persons."

This raises unimaginable ethical problems, and Christians must be engaged in the debate. As Nigel writes, "At the heart of the agenda for the 21st century lies the need to build a policy framework in which ethical principles set the ground-rules for our use of these new powers." We must, he says, "secure human nature from commodification."

I could not agree more. Humans and human nature are not commodities to be manipulated, bought, and sold. In the rush to "make life better and easier" by "improving" the human body, we cannot allow human life to become less human.

Chuck Colson
("Reinventing Man: Biotechnology and the Human Future,
Breakpoint, August 19, 2008, www.breakpoint.org)

BUILDING WITH GOLD


For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, NAS)


Paul states that Christ is our foundation. Our works are the building on this foundation. The materials of gold, silver, and precious stones refer to works done with pure motives for the glory of God. The works of wood, hay, and straw are works done with the wrong motives to glorify self.

Our works will be tested with divine fire. Those works that were done for the glory of God will endure the flames and will be our reward. Some will regretfully see all their works on earth burned up before their eyes and enter heaven with little or no reward.

(www.probe.org,
"What Happens After Death")

BUILDING WITH GOLD


For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, NAS)


Paul states that Christ is our foundation. Our works are the building on this foundation. The materials of gold, silver, and precious stones refer to works done with pure motives for the glory of God. The works of wood, hay, and straw are works done with the wrong motives to glorify self.

Our works will be tested with divine fire. Those works that were done for the glory of God will endure the flames and will be our reward. Some will regretfully see all their works on earth burned up before their eyes and enter heaven with little or no reward.

(www.probe.org,
"What Happens After Death")

GOD'S GOLD


I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7, NAB)


Olympic gold is never earned by sheer luck, but by years of grueling training by each athlete.

Simply put, only the best deserve to win the quest for Olympic gold.

Finishing second and third will merit silver and bronze respectively.

Other than those, trying hard is not given any recognition at all.

Having said that, shouldn't we all be glad that our salvation is not played for like the Olympics? I mean, how could we, certified spiritual weaklings, match up against those big-time clutch and steady-under-the-pressure saints and biblical heroes? To name a few -- Abraham offering his only son to be killed, Jacob wrestling with an angel, St. Peter dying a martyr's death and [countless other saints and martyrs enduring] torture and death that could easily have been avoided with a simple renunciation of faith. Our faith compared to these warriors of God would be the most lop-sided over-matched faith competition the world could see.

But God's ways are mind-bogglingly different from man's thinking. And God's gold is meant for all, so nobody needs to be left out. As proof of His universal invitation, He sent our Lord Jesus, His only begotten son, to win the race of salvation for us. He made it possible by offering His most precious blood at the cross.

Needless to say, we need to keep on fighting a good fight of faith, notwithstanding personal struggles and tribulations. We need to focus on our goal, our life-mission and ultimately, our heavenly vision. We excitedly must look forward to the day when we can hear God's voice saying, "Well done, my faithful servant, welcome into my kingdom."

God bless

Rowin Santos