Ukrainian
gymnast Larisa Latynina held the record of 18 Olympic medals. She won them in
the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Olympics. The 48-year-old record was surpassed when
Michael Phelps swam for his 19th gold in the 4 x 200-meter freestyle relay in
the 2012 London Games. “[Latynina] kind of got lost in history,” the publisher
of the International Gymnast magazine said. When the Soviet Union broke
up, “we had forgotten about her.”
Paul, the
apostle, reminds us that sometimes hard work is forgotten. Athletes subject
their bodies to great discipline as they train to win perishable medals for
their effort (1 Cor. 9:25). But it is not just that the medals are perishable.
Over time, people’s memory of those achievements dim and fade. If athletes can
sacrifice so much to achieve rewards on the earth, rewards that will eventually
be forgotten, how much more effort should followers of Christ exert to gain an imperishable
crown? (1 Tim.
4:8).
Athletes’ sacrifice and determination are rewarded with medals, trophies, and money. But even greater, our Father in heaven rewards the discipline of His children (Luke 19:17).
