God's Coaching #215

God's Coaching #215

No American gymnast had ever won an Olympic all-around gold medal. Not a single man or woman. But Mary Lou Retton had a chance at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, California. The 16-year-old was in the lead on August 3, 1984. Ecaterina Szabo of Romania trailed by only .15 of a point. The two traded the lead as they moved through the four rotations. It all came down to Mary Lou on the vault. Ecaterina led by .05 of a point. Mary Lou could win gold, but only if she scored a perfect 10. “I’m going to stick it,” she told her coach, Bélá Karolyi.

The four-foot-eight-inch gymnast sprinted toward the vault as fast as she could. She leaped and sprang into an airborne, laid-out backflip with a twist. Both feet landed—and didn’t budge. She stuck it. A perfect 10! The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Mary Lou was a national hero. She brought home a gold that no other American had ever been able to claim.

What’s the Score?

There’s nothing like gold. In sports, it’s first place—the best. For treasure seekers, it’s the ultimate prize. Throughout history, it’s been used for money. It’s what other valuables are compared to. If something’s worth a lot, we say it’s “as good as gold.”

But there’s something even better: God’s Word. God’s laws are “more desirable than gold, even the finest gold” (Psalm 19:10). Why? Because they satisfy much more deeply. Gold can be spent, and it’s gone. Gold can be stolen or lost. But God’s Word is good forever. God’s ways are never used up. They keep bringing life, peace, satisfaction, meaning, and blessing. When the richest billionaires and winningest athletes die, their gold is worthless to them. It’s done and gone. But after death is when God’s Word begins to pay off treasures we can only imagine. Go for more than gold. Stick with God’s Word, and you’ll be truly blessed.

On the Ball

Track your time this week. How much do you spend trying to be a better athlete, musician, artist, or student? How much do you spend trying to learn and follow God’s Word?

Coach’s Comment

The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. Psalm 19:9-10