While watching the Winter Olympics from Vancover, Canada I was impressed with the comradery among the athletes. I noticed that the athletes from Israel and the ones from Iran came into the opening ceremony back to back. There appeared to be absolutely no hostility between them even though the countries are considered enemies. 

The apostle Paul alludes to athletes in his epistles. He mentions running a race (Heb. 12:1). He wrote to Timothy about fighting a good fight (2 Tim. 4:7). He wrote of "beating the air" as a boxer (1 Cor.9:26).  Indeed, Paul was familiar with sports. 

In a kidding conversation with an avid Auburn fan I mentioned that if the apostle Paul were alive today that he would be an Alabama football fan. The reason I gave was because Paul would choose a winner. It brought no more than a grin from my friend. 

The idea behind this article on athletes is to show that if the leaders of the nations of the world had the attitude of athletes this would truly be a peaceful world. Athletes compete and the losers congratulate the winners. Of course, this is the attitude of Christians. We weep with those who weep and we rejoice with those who rejoice. (Rom. 12:15). Christians love their neighbors as they love themselves. They do not seek their own things but also the things of others. (Rom.12:10; Phil.2:4).  

If our world rulers are not willing to follow Christ at least they can learn how to get along from the example of athletes.