As you well know -- the 2004 International Olympic Summer Games are underway -- where the games were born more than a century ago -- in Athens, Greece.
A record 202 nations have united beneath the Olympic flame.
More than 10, 500 athletes -- are competing -- concentrating on pushing themselves swifter, higher, and stronger.
At the Opening Ceremony -- the International Olympic committee president urged athletes to “show us that sports unite -- by overriding national, political, religious, & language barriers.”
He is quoted as saying, “We need peace -- we need tolerance -- we need brotherhood.” -- With that I do agree!
Then, with a blast of fireworks around the stadium roof -- the opening ceremony was fully underway. -- Some of you may have watched.
The parade of nations began with the appearance of a Greek weight-lifter -- who is seeking his forth consecutive gold medal at the games.
Behind him the more than 10,500 athletes streamed into the stadium.
There was huge applause for Afghanistan -- on its return to Olympic competition after an 8 year absence -- & with its first female athletes.
The Iraqis entered to a roaring ovation.
The more than 500-member US team also drew cheers.
NBC has paid somewhere around $500 million to telecast that opening ceremony -- along with over 200 hours of the competitions.
It is estimated that 4 billion sets of eyes watched -- as the Summer Games return to their storied birthplace.
The eyes of the world are focused upon these events.
As I watched part of that opening ceremony -- I was reminded of the words of the Hebrew writer as he wrote: -- “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses ....” Heb. 12:1-2.
As Christians -- you & I run in a race -- a race of which the reward is far greater than a gold -- or silver -- or bronze metal
It is a race in which the reward is that of everlasting life!
To lose that race is to lose everything! -- For eternity!
To win the race is to win everything -- an eternal inheritance.
The Heb. writer makes us feel not only that we are like runners in an all important race -- but that we are being watched by a vast audience. -- My friends -- we are being watched!
Who is watching us? -- To be sure -- your children are watching!
Those people who judge Christianity by you -- are watching!
But that is not the significance of this passage; --
Those of whom the Heb. writer speaks -- is a vast crowd who is there to cheer us & to encourage us!
Let me suggest a few possibilities of who is watching us!
1. We are being watched by the Godhead!
Without question -- we are being watched by the Godhead!
God the Father -- God the Son -- & God the HS are not only Omnipotent (all powerful) -- & omniscient (all knowing) -- they are also omnipresent (everywhere at once).
Every action -- every attitude -- every word spoken is observed by the Holy Trinity! -- This is a sobering thought!
We cannot hid from God -- nor will God hid from us!
The Godhead sees what we are up against; -- He knows & He understands what battles & obstacles & hurdles we face.
And God is on our side! -- He wants us to win!
He will do everything within His power to enable us -- if we will only allow Him to do so!
We need not hole the road of life alone!
The entire Godhead desires to be our coach -- to teach us -- to guide us -- to show us the way!
The Godhead is not there to brow-beat us; -- to put us down; -- to criticize us; -- to blame us for every little mistake; -- to condemn us!
No, no, no! -- God is on our side!
When we stumble -- He is there to lift us up!
When we sin -- He is there to forgive us!
When we make mistakes -- He is there to teach us!
If God be for us -- who can be against us?
Spiritual power & resources are available to all who will call upon His Holy Name!
The eternal Godhead stands at attention as we make our way from earth to glory!
Satan’s BB guns are no match for God’s heavy artillery!
So don’t be afraid! -- The Godhead is watching on -- & God is for us!
2. We are being watched by the Holy Angels!
Do you believe in guardian angels? -- I do!
The Bible -- in nearly 300 different places -- teaches that God has countless angels at His command!
Furthermore -- God has commissioned these angels to aid -- to help His children in their struggles!
God's holy angels are sent as “ministering spirits” to the Children of God -- & they are around about us at all times!
The Bible does not give us as much information about the angels as we might like - but what it does say should be a source of comfort & strength in every circumstance!
I am convinced that these heavenly beings exist -- & that they provide unseen aid on our behalf!
Oh -- if we could but see the heavenly host God has assigned to each of us -- it would certainly give us lift & encouragement!
Seen or unseen -- they are there just the same.
I do not know how many guardian angels are assigned to each born again Christian -- but according to Heb. 1:14 -- they are in the plural!
It says that angels are only servants. -- They are spirits sent from God to care for those who will receive salvation.
Somehow I suspect that each & every Christian has thousands of guardian angels round about him at all times!
Regretfully I must add that in addition to the Holy angels -- there are also the fallen angels -- who were expelled from heaven with Lucifer -- & they are constantly spying!
But Lucifer took only 1/3 of the angels with him in the fall -- & that means that 2/3 of the angels remained with God!
God has two holy angles for every one fallen angel the devil has!
God’s holy angels have a far more important place in the Bible than do the devil & his demons.
Greater are they who are for us than they that are of the devil
The Rev. John G. Paton -- a missionary in the western Pacific islands -- tells a thrilling story involving the protective care of God’s angels.
Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night -- intent on burning the Patons out & killing them.
John Paton & his wife prayed all during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.
When daylight came -- they were amazed to see the attackers unaccountably leave. -- They thanked God for delivering them!
A year later -- the chief of the tribe was converted to JC -- & Mr. Paton remembering what had happened -- asked the chief what had kept him -- & his men from burning down the house & killing them that night.
The chief replied in surprise -- asking -- “Who were all those men you had with you there?”
The missionary answered: “There were no men there; just my wife & I.”
The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard; -- hundreds of big men in shining garments -- with drawn swords in their hands. -- They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack.
Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent His angels to protect them. -- The chief agreed that there was no other explanation!
Could it be that God has also sent a legion of angels to protect you --when your life is endangered?
3. We are also being watched by all the Saints who have died before us!
You may ask -- “Pastor, can you prove that?” -- No, I cannot. --
But I have come to believe -- that somehow it is so!
The Bible speaks of rejoicing in the presence of the angles of God over one sinner who repents!
The saints who have gone on ahead of us into the presence of God -- are also in the presence of those holy angels.
2 Cor. 5:8 tells us that to be -- “absent from the body -- is to be present with the Lord.”
Therefore, I believe that every time a lost sinner receives Christ as Lord & Savior -- loved ones already in heaven are rejoicing with the angels with shouts of victory & joy!
You may ask me -- “Do our loved ones already in heaven watch our every move?” -- I do not know how to truthfully answer that!
That possibility would be both encouraging & demanding!
But somehow I do feel they are there to cheer us on!
When I was attending a Christian high school in the hills of eastern KY -- my dear mother wrote me one day -- saying my best childhood friend -- Phil Crew -- had become a Christian -- giving his heart to Jesus!
It seemed that he had an old beat-up car -- that was broken down more than it was up & running.
A pastor of an Assembly of God Church in our rural area of NE Ohio -- befriended Phil. -- The pastor enjoyed working on old cars -- & Phil’s car always needed to be worked on.
In the process of time -- the pastor was able to bring Phil into the saving experience of JC; -- something Phil had not heard or learned from home.
I was so happy about Phil getting saved! -- I could hardly wait until the school year was over -- so I could go home for the Summer & hear the story of Phil’s conversion from him personally -- & to be able to rejoice with him. -- We would then have more in common than ever!
But then -- late in the Spring -- I got another letter from my mother -- bearing the sad news -- that one afternoon as Phil was on his way home -- he went around a curve in the road too fast -- went off the road -- hit a tree -- & the accident took his life!
While my heart was broken -- I found comfort in somehow believing -- that Phil Crew was now part of that "great cloud of witnesses" -- & he is there on the other side looking on -- & saying to me, -- “Lyle, hang in there; -- I’m pulling for you; -- you’ll make it -- & when you do -- it will be worth it all! -- I’m cheering for you all the way!”
I am now reaching that age in life -- where I have as many friends on the other side -- as I have here!
My good friend & former college room mate --Dave Dooley is there.
Another close friend & college class mate -- Gary Gulley is there.
The G.S. who laid hands on me & ordained me to the Christian ministry -- Hugh C. Benner -- is over there in Gloryland!
Those church members I have ministered to in years passed -- & whose funerals I have conducted -- they are there.
My dear brother who got back to God & began to fulfill his call to preach -- before he passed away at the tender age of 51 -- he is over there -- waiting for that day when he can greet me inside those gates of pearl!
My dear father whose Homegoing I was privileged to witness -- is over there; -- & my godly mother who many of you have known -- she is over there!
I could go on & on -- telling of dear saints I have known across the years -- which have gone on ahead -- but time does not permit.
I believe that all of these -- & more -- are cheering me on! -- If not in actuality -- at least in my inner spirit!
I somehow hear them saying to me -- “Stay the course; -- hang in there; -- don’t ever give up! -- Keep true to the faith!”
I know they await me on the other side -- & once I’ve heard those words from my Lord & Savior: -- “Well done thou good & faithful servant” -- they will be standing there waiting to welcome me Home!
Conclusion: My friends --
We are being watched by a vast audience! -- A great cloud of witnesses!
We are being watched by the Eternal Godhead.
We are being watched by the Holy Angels.
We are being watched by the Saints who have died before us.
The persons who are in this vast audience -- differ from those who flock to the stadium to watch the sports; -- they are not merely spectators.
They are not mere observers in the grand stand -- curious to see how we will do.
Rather they are persons who have already tested their power of endurance -- & proved themselves faithful!
They testify that they made it -- & so can we also!
In number they are a vast cloud of boosters; -- one great "cheering squad!"
They are present to encourage our every effort -- during those times that are hard -- & to encourage us when we face temptations & trials.
These onlookers are all friends -- & we are challenged by them to succeed in the race!
I must say that the prize before us is not for good starters; -- it is for good finishers!
The race embraces the whole of life; -- it is a contest to the finish!
He that endures to the end shall be saved!
The Christian race is from here to heaven -- & we need to keep running as long as we are here!
But unlike the Olympics -- where only a few shall win the gold -- all of us here today who walk faithfully with the Lord our God -- will someday walk on Golden streets!
The Christian race is a contest in which everyone who enters can be a winner!
Illus: -- While Jeannette & I were pastoring in Pontiac, IL -- we enjoyed attending the high school football games -- when my busy schedule permitted.
On one of those occasions -- we witnessed something during the half-time -- which I shall never forget.
A bunch of high school boys -- all of whom were part of the Track Team -- ran around the track which encompassed the football field.
One of the boys that was some what heavier than the rest of his team-mates -- soon fell behind.
In fact -- while the others were approaching the finish line -- this one was only half way.
The eyes of the crowd began to focus on this one young man -- out there running -- far behind all the rest.
It would have been easy for him to have just given it up; -- to stop part way; -- to leave the field; -- to walk toward the gym in disgrace.
But instead he kept on running -- even after all the others were finished.
The crowd began to cheer for him -- urging him on; -- it was electrifying!
His pace was slow -- but he kept on running -- & the crowd kept on cheering!
Finally -- he reached the finish line -- & there was huge applause.
Everybody seemed excited that he had completed the run.
Having come in last -- he drew far more attention then did the person who had finished first.
He had completed the race -- which he had entered!
Again I say -- the Christian race is a contest in which everyone who enters can be a winner!
As I was reading this week -- about the 2004 Summer Olympics taking place in Athens, Greece -- I came across a quote from Plato -- the ancient Greek philosopher.
Plato once cautioned -- “never discourage ... anyone who continually makes progress -- no matter how slow.”
But allow me to give you one more word of advice this morning concerning the race we are in as Christians.
You might find this hard to believe -- but when I went to public high school-- during my freshmen year -- I played on the football team.
I enjoyed the sport -- & was determined to be a good player.
I practiced hard along with the others -- giving it all that I had.
In order to be in good condition -- I took up running -- to keep myself in shape.
Following football practice each evening after school -- I would hitch-hike from Garrettesville -- where our high school was located -- to our little village of Freedom.
We lived down a country lane -- about 2 miles off the main hwy.
By the time I would reach our road -- it was already dark.
There was not much traffic -- nor many homes down that country road -- & there were not many lights along the way.
I would begin to run down that county road just as hard & as fast as I could run -- as part of my conditioning effort.
To keep from being distracted along the way -- I would fix my eyes on the farthest light in the distance -- & run toward that light.
When another light -- farther down the road would appear -- I would fix my eyes on it -- & run, run, run hard -- until I would finally see the lights of our house -- & I knew I was almost home.
I would not take my eyes off that light until I reached the front porch -- & I knew I was home at last! -- & just inside my mom & dad would greet me.
My friends -- JC is still the Light of the world!
He is the light that will lead us to our eternal home!
Fix your eyes upon Jesus -- “the author & finisher of our faith -- who for the joy that was set before him -- endured the cross -- despising the shame -- & is set down at the right hand of the throne of God!”
Do not be distracted by any thing or any one -- on the left or on the right -- just keep your eyes on Jesus -- & run the race with patience -- until you hear those glorious words -- “Welcome Home, my child!”
Remember -- as you run the race -- you are also “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses ....
We are surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses -- cheering us on!