In light of the Opening Olympic Ceremony and the out and out mockery and disrespect of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and Christianity, I am asking us to keep our eyes on Jesus. Do not be overcome by the evil that was presented (Romans 12:17-21). I am not saying that Olympic competition is evil. I am saying that the spirit of this world was clearly demonstrated in the Opening Olympic Ceremony. The blatant message of transgenderism from the commercials, to the behavior and appearance of some of the athletes made me cringe.

One thing you need to understand is that NOTHING is new under the sun. But it is however, thanks to technology, in our face 24/7. Things that most of us are being exposed to today, we would not have been aware of before.

From the time Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, when they could have eaten from the Tree of Life, opened the door to all manner of evil. Though there were many trees to eat from, there were 2 trees in the middle of the garden of Eden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the only tree that God commanded them not to eat from). When they did, God had to keep them from eating from the Tree of Life and being damned forever. Genesis 2:9; 3; Romans 1:18-32; 5:12-21.

Romans 1: 28-32 (NIV Zondervan): “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents, they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Does this sound familiar? Is this not what the Opening Ceremony in the 2024 Olympics looks like?

Now I want to take you to the book of Daniel. The Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar, ruled most of the known world at that time and He brought people from every country he had conquered back to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar came up with the bright idea to make an image of gold. It was about 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. When music was played everyone was to stop what they were doing and fall down and worship this image. Anyone who didn’t worship this image were to be throne into a blazing furnace. Three men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused and they were reported to the king. This was their reply to the King, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you set up.” King Nebuchadnezzar was irate and had the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The strongest soldiers were assigned to tie up each man and throw them into the furnace. The flames from the fire was so intense that it killed the soldiers. Not only did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not die in the fire, the king saw a fourth person in the fire that he said looked like “a son of the gods”. They were not harmed: “They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair on their head singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants. They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any other nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.”

These were just three men who stood up for righteousness. Can, we as Christians, do any less today? We must stand up for righteousness. We must not compromise. We must not be afraid or ashamed. Luke 9:23-26. Tell me, to whom do you bow your knee?

Ephesians 6:10-12: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God (which is Jesus), so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Please read verses 13-20.

Revelation 12:11,12: “They triumphed over him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” I suggest that you start at verse 7-12.