The Righteous Judge

by Joey Davis

I love the Olympics. There's just something about the idea of having people from all over the world come together to share their talents and compete in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Where else will you see a German embrace a Brit? Where else will you see all races and creeds cheer for one another because of the power of what they are doing and not the prejudice of who they are? The Olympics is athletics at its finest.

If I had my choice between the Summer or Winter Olympics, I'd choose the Winter Olympics every time! I guess I feel this way because I love fall and winter so.

I happen to be a figure skating fan. I suppose it holds an appeal to me because I am totally incapable of doing it. Yet, the thing about skating that bothers me is the judges!

When I watch the skaters, I see beauty and grace. I cannot understand how you could compare each routine and decide that one skater is one-tenth of a point better than other. How can a skater who falls receive higher marks than one who skated flawlessly with less risk? Yet. I saw this very thing happen two nights ago.

I think this is why I pay attention to who wins the luge, bobsled, speed skating. and downhill skiing,. and only watch.

skating for the sheer e!1ioyment of witnessing humans who move with a grace that I could never possess. Winning the luge is objective. all contestants are measured by the same judge. . . the clock. Winning a skating competition is like winning a beauty contest. . . all a matter of opinion.

Last night, as I watched the Ice Dancers the commentator stated that the American team had no chance of winning because there was not an American judge. Why should that matter? . . .

. .. It mattered because, unlike clocks, there is only one who ever sported flesh and bones that can honestly be called a Righteous Judge. Jesus, the Son of God, called Himself the "Son of Man" more than any other title. Why? Because in Daniel 7, the prophecy of the Son of Man is one of a righteous judge that was to come.

Every day, we answer His question, "who do you say that I am?" We pass judgment on who we think Jesus really was/is. Yet someday. He will pass judgment on us. It will be righteous. just, and objective. The criteria will be not only who we thought He was. but what we did with that information! Commit. your life to the Righteous Judge!

• The Olympic Flame -Aug 25, 1996