Jesus & The Paris Olympics – Lara Watson
My boys Jake and Ben cheered in awe, as American Olympian, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone ran the women’s 400-metre hurdles, and pulled away from the other competitors while rounding the backstretch to win by more than a second, setting a new world record with an incredible run of just 50.37 seconds! As we watched these groundbreaking moments together as a family, we heard commentators note that Sydney suddenly moved with a “supernatural” ease and speed, and it was this “inexplicable strength and resilience” that helped her win the race with such power. I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.
When Sydney was interviewed after this one-of-a-kind feat, this is what she said, “I credit all that I do to God. He’s given me a gift, He’s given me a drive to just want to continue to improve upon myself…So whenever I step on the track it’s always the prayer of, ‘God, let me be the vessel in which You’re glorified, whatever the result is — how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform.’
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Summer Olympics after watching the opening ceremonies. Upon watching this inaugural event, I was quickly concerned with how this Olympics would impact people of faith the world over AND how this controversial event could be a confusing stumbling block to those seeking Jesus. Yet despite the opening ceremonies—meant to unite the world but instead highlighting the growing persecution Jesus warned His followers would face—Christian athletes persevered. The ensuing controversy only strengthened the resolve of believers, including Olympic athletes who follow Jesus, as they united in response to what many saw as a deliberate mockery of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper.'”
After watching the opening ceremonies, my big prayerful question to God was this, “How are you going to make Romans 8:28 happen out of these controversial opening ceremonies and all the fallout so that somehow, ‘all things work together for good for those who love you (God) and are called according to your purpose’?
Slowly, surely over the last three weeks my prayer was answered.
Maybe it was the public display of French citizens corporately worshipping Jesus outside the Paris Olympics, the melodic sound of the Fijian Olympic team singing hymns, or the post-competition faith statements of Olympians like Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo, Brazilian skateboarder Raysa Leal or British swimmer Adam Peaty, or the Instagram video posted by British track and field Olympian Cindy Sember showing a group of athletes from across the world worshipping God together in the main lobby of their residence at the Olympic village in Paris. Arms lifted high, onlookers watched as this group sang the refrain of the popular worship song, “Waymaker” which declares the following about God, “Even when I don’t see it you’re working. Even when I don’t feel it you’re working. You never stop. You never stop working.”
At the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, I couldn’t see God working or predict how He would work through the controversy of the opening ceremonies. I could only see persecution, heartbroken people of faith, baited reactions, global strife, and disunity. Of course, after following Jesus for two decades I should know better. God is ALWAYS working and He ALWAYS has a plan. Now as we end this Olympic season I see how God has been working, and the fact that He has been working overtime. As renowned preacher and theologian John Piper once said, “God’s doing ten thousand things in your life and you may be aware of three of them.” Isn’t that the truth?
At the start of the summer Olympics in Paris EVERYONE was talking about Jesus, and as we near the end of the games, EVERYONE IS STILL talking about Jesus, particularly the Olympic athletes who follow Him. These tenacious and resilient souls are talking about the strength and hope He brings to bear on their lives, and on the life of every person who chooses to see and know He is the holy, eternal, risen, incarnate son of God who came to show us what it means to live as sons and daughters of God amidst the brokenness of humanity.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
Matthew 7:24
