Sometimes An Athlete

SOMETIMES AN ATHLETE is so on his game that the audience—as well as his competitors—stand up and cheer. That was the case at the bike dirt competition at the 2003 Gravity Games.

From the moment Ryan Nyquist stepped on his bike, he was pure gold. Nyquist was the only rider to tally more than 90 points on every run, and his average of 96 points had him solidly in first even before his last ride.

But although this 24-year-old North Carolinian could have coasted through his final ride, he put on a show for the fans. He flew down the 55-degree, 35-foot ramp and stuck his first trick, a 720, perfectly. For his second stunt, Nyquist calmly landed a double bar spin. He followed that with a no-hander raise the roof. And finally, Nyquist brought everybody to their feet with a double bar spin backflip.

With the perfect round complete, Nyquist slipped off his seat and let his bike fly—nearly taking out a cameraman. As Nyquist raised his hands in victory, fellow bike dirt riders tossed their bikes off the platform and began bowing down to the champion.

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POINT Ryan Nyquist could do no wrong at the 2003 Gravity Games. Every one of his rides scored huge points. Nobody could hang with him. Even though he already had the gold, Nyquist ended with a bang. And once Nyquist nailed his final stunt, the crowd stood and his competitors dropped to their knees.

Although bike dirt riders were joking a bit when they bowed before Nyquist, the Bible is clear: God doesn’t want you to worship idols. Anything that takes your focus off Jesus can be an idol, whether it’s money, perfect grades, the opposite sex, or a sports star. As you go through life, make sure you have God in his deserving place: first.

GOAL! We don’t hear too much about people bowing to a golden calf today, yet thousands of people—young and old—worship various idols. Commit to follow the one true God and bow only to him.