The Olympics and Misplaced Identity

The 2020 (in 2021) Summer Olympics have officially started. Any summer that includes getting a chance to watch the best athletes in the world compete to win gold brings so much excitement and anticipation.

For some of these athletes, it is their first time stepping into the Olympic spotlight and they are hoping that this will be their moment to show the world who they are. For others, this is their final chance to compete at such a level and perhaps the last opportunity to finally win a medal in the sport that they have given their lives to chase.

The amount of pressure and expectation that is placed on these athletes can be overwhelming and sometimes too much for some of them to carry. These athletes are carrying the expectations of their country, families, the sport, coaches, and fans worldwide. They are also carrying personal expectations that, for some, have their whole identity, value, purpose, and meaning of their life wrapped up in this one defining moment, and it is an incredibly exciting thing to see an athlete achieve the dream of winning a gold medal in the sport they love.

I remember how unbelievably exciting it was to watch Michael Phelps win not just one, but eight gold medals during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. It is also heartbreaking sometimes to see athletes fall short of their dreams. I remember watching this happen when the 2004 Men’s Olympic basketball team had to settle for bronze even though expectations were gold medal or bust.

One of the biggest stories of this year’s Olympics is Simone Biles.

She is a former gold medalist, the favorite to win it all again this year, and is considered one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in the Olympic games. To the shock of everyone, Biles withdrew from the competition early stating physical and mental health concerns. While some have shown Biles support and understanding, others have criticized and shamed her for her decision to step down.

While the majority of us will never know what it is like to feel the weight and pressure to represent one’s country or compete in the Olympics, we do all share in the danger of allowing the things of this world to become the things that define who we are as individuals and give us our sense of meaning or purpose in life.

If you are reading this, chances are you are probably not currently competing in the Olympics. That said, you are still someone doing something.

Maybe for you, that something is being a full-time employee, a business owner, a parent, a student, an athlete, a neighbor, or even just a good friend. We all have things in our life that, if we are not careful, we will allow us to give us a false sense of purpose, meaning, value, and identity.

Romans 1:15 says,

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is forever praised, Amen.”

What this verse means is that, if we are not careful, we will begin to worship things that are not God and by worshiping these things, we will ultimately start to look to these things, instead of God, to give us our identity. This is the opposite of the good news of the Gospel! The good news of the Gospel states that you and I were created by God and for God.

We know this from Colossians 1:16 that says,

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

This truth helps us begin to understand and realize that our ultimate identity, purpose, value, meaning, and worth do not (nor will it ever!) come from things of this world. It can only come from realizing that you and I were created by God and for God. We are loved by God despite how good we are at making money, growing a business, scoring touchdowns, raising well-behaved children, report cards, test scores, or any other myriad of things. We are loved by God despite what other people think or say about us.

Matt Chandler, the Senior Pastor at The Village Church, once talked about this concept, how if a powerful enough microscope did exist that would allow us to see inside the heart of human beings, we would be able to see that, just like the tag on t-shirts tell us where it was made, the human heart “tag” would read. “Made by God.”

The beauty of the Gospel is that it is by grace that any person can be saved when we put our trust in what Jesus has accomplished in His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

So, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and every player on the 2004 Men’s basketball team are just as loved by God as you and me. Their identities and value should not be found in their Olympic success or failures any more than our identities should be found in the things we surround our lives with. There is nothing wrong with achieving greatness and pushing yourself to pursue your dreams using the skills and talents God has given each of you.

The problem comes when we exchange the truth of being created by God and for God for the lie that tells you and me that our identity must be found outside of God.

My hope and prayer is that you realize and remember you were not created by money for money. You were not created by marriage for marriage. You were not created by work and for work. You were not created by success and for success. You were created by God and for God. May you find rest, peace, grace, mercy, joy, and the freedom that comes from knowing this truth!