Introduction: In spite of the fact that our view of the purity of sports has been tainted in these recent years, they still hold for us the power to inspire and to challenge us, especially in difficulty. The Olympics are just such an event. While, admittedly, our view of the Olympic glory has become somewhat jaded, there are still individuals who have fulfilled the true spirit of the games. One such person of courage was 30-year-old Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands. Fanny was probably the greatest all-around athlete in history, but is little known outside her country. However, in the three years following the Berlin Games of 1936 she emerged as the world's greatest female sprinter. She looked forward to the 1940 Games but they were canceled because World War II had begun one year earlier.

Fanny Koen married her coach Jan Blankers and during the German occupation of the Netherlands she kept training, hoping that the war would be over in time for the 1944 Olympics. Again the Games were cancelled. During this period Fanny gave birth to a son and daughter. Fanny continued to train under the watchful eye of her husband. Their training sessions became a family affair. The children would play while Fanny trained.

When the war was over in 1945 it was announced that the Olympic games would be renewed in London three years later. As the Games approached in 1948, Fanny was 30 years old. Besides being a sprinter and a hurdler, Fanny was also the best in the world in the long jump and the high jump but would not compete at the Olympics in these events.

As she prepared to leave for London in the summer of 1948, the Dutch newspapers began to print scathing stories about her. Why is a 30-year-old woman with two small children leaving them alone in Amsterdam while she was off running and jumping at the Olympic Games? Fanny and Jan paid no heed. "I will show them that a 30-year-old mother of two small children can compete with the young ones," Fanny vowed.

Fanny immediately won the 100 meter dash and followed that with a victory in the 80 meter hurdles. The unexpected crush of the media was overpowering. She had no time to rest for her next events. Finally it became too much for her and she broke down in tears. "I have proved what I said I would do," she cried to her husband. "They will not let me alone. I want to go home." Jan listened sympathetically. Then, embracing Fanny, he said: "Yes, Fanny, you have proven your point. You have shown that a 30-year-old mother can win with the best. And if you want to go home, I understand. But if you stay and win two more gold medals in the 200 meters and in the 4 x 100 relay, you will do what only one other person has ever done. You will accomplish what Jesse Owens did 12 years ago. You will become the first woman to win four gold medals in track and field at the Olympic Games. Fanny…if you stay…you will become IMMORTAL."

A few seconds went by and Fanny composed herself. "Thank you, Jan," she said softly. "You are right. I will stay." Fanny went on to win those two gold medals and today she is still the only woman to have won four track and field gold medals in the same Olympiad and is truly immortal.

Enduring the test for the reward of joy. Enduring the test for the reward of joy was a goal in the mind of Peter as he wrote to suffering, distressed, tested Christians. He wrote to bring them hope in hard times. He writes in these verses of a perspective these believers are to have as they face their trails: Refuse defeat by life's worst and you will be rewarded by the joy of God's best!

That Christians are not exempt from life's worst is not a surprise to anyone who has walked long in this life. What makes Christians different is that in Christ they have the power to refuse to be defeated by life's worst and be rewarded by the joy of God's best.

How do they do it? Not by denial or with a clinched-jaw determination nor by dropping out of life. How do you make the best from life's worst? Peter gives us three pieces of wisdom in these verses.

I. You make the best from life's worst with an attitude that accepts the present but anticipates the future. (v. 6)

What is the present these Christians faced? Now they were "distressed by various trials": experiencing the grief of untold varieties of pressures and stress. They faced economic trials because of their refusal to honor the gods of the various working guilds. They faced social trials because they were accused of immorality, cannibalism and thought to be atheists. They faced trials of family as they were rejected for their devotion to Christ. They were tried in the courts illegally. Peter says these trials were "necessary"–they are not without a purpose. The only response, then, is one that sees and accepts that the present has a purpose.

What was their future? "In this you greatly rejoice…" Look back at I Peter 1:3-5. Here Peter tells them that their future has a living hope, a secure inheritance, a protected salvation. Therefore, because of what awaited them, it changed their attitude about the present. Because they knew the end of the story it changed how they saw current problems. The anticipation of the future gave a different perspective to life's worst--they won't last forever…"for a little while" and that what's ahead is so much greater than what's behind.

Accepting the present while anticipating the future gives a change of attitude to the worst that life can bring.

In 1938 Sgt. Karoly Takacs of the Hungarian Army was the finest pistol shooter in the world. He was a member of the world championship Hungarian team that was expected to dominate the upcoming 1940 Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo. One day on maneuvers with his squad, a terrible accident occurred. A defective pin exploded a hand grenade in his right hand before he could toss it. His right hand was blown off. For days he lay unconscious in the hospital and doctors feared for his life.

While Takacs recovered from his physical wounds, severe depression set in. For even though the 1940 and 1944 Olympic Games were canceled because of World War II his hopes of ever winning an Olympic gold medal were now dashed. Because of his fame as a pistol shooter, his physical disabilities were waived by the Hungarian Army, and he was permitted to remain in service. This act probably saved his life, for many of his friends believed his depressions would lead to suicide. Often during the day's routine, Takacs would leave his office and be gone for several hours. No one questioned where he was or what he was doing. He rose in rank, being elevated first to lieutenant, then to captain.

When World War II was over in 1945, Takacs remained in the Army, and soon it was learned that the Olympic Games would be renewed in London in the summer of 1948. Now more than ever, Captain Takacs absented himself from his regular duties. The world soon would realize the courage and greatness of Koroly Takacs during the summer of 1948. For there standing high atop the victory platform for the winner of the gold medal in the rapid fire pistol shooting championship stood Captain Karoly Takacs. He had won the gold medal using his left hand--a hand he had never used before his accident ten years earlier.

Sgt. Karoly Takacs accepted the reality that he couldn't shoot right handed but his anticipation of winning the gold medal allowed him to overcome the worst that life had thrown at him.

What is your present? "Distressed" by trials?" Will you be willing to accept their reality in God's plan and anticipate the day that those trials will be no more? Will you let the promise of a future make a difference today?

2. Making the best from life’s worst means accepting the present while anticipating the future. You make the best from life's worst with an understanding of your trials' purpose: It's a test to produce the best from my life. (v. 7)

First, it's a test that proves something presently. Peter says these things exist so that the proof or essence of your faith can be discovered. That essence is more valuable than any material estimation of worth or value. The value of gold is determined by people but through fiery trials – God determines the value of your faith.

You see, all faith is doubted until it's tested. Only trials give faith its approval! But it's not proven to God. He knows. It's a proof to ourselves. We discover courage, strength, stamina and power we didn't know we had! It is also a proof to those around us--they get a chance to see the real us!!

Second, it's a test that proves something ultimately. He points out that the verdict or the results of the test is not complete ("may be found"). What Peter says here is that when our faith is tested and proven in this life that it really will be rewarded by "praise and glory and honor" when Jesus returns.

When it seems to all the world that you have been destroyed by your trials, in heaven you will climb the victor's stand and you will be honored in a way unmatched in this life.

In 1951 the Harlem Globetrotter basketball team was completing its European tour before some 70,000 spectators at the Berlin Olympic Stadium. At half-time after the Globetrotters had put on a hilarious performance, many of the spectators were leaving their seats for refreshments. Suddenly the loud speaker announcer spoke these words: "Ladies and gentlemen, please return to your seats. I give you the champion of champions…Jesse Owens…" The crowds slowly moved back to the seats as they observed 37-year-old Jesse Owens step onto the red cinder track that was untouched by Allied bombing during World War II. Wearing the same Olympic uniform he wore at the Berlin Olympics while winning his four gold medals came Jesse Owens through one of the portals. His stride was as majestic as it was 15 years earlier.

With a broad smile on his face Jesse slowly trotted around the 400 meter track--a victory lap he was unable to take when Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering and Joseph Goebbels looked down from the ornate chancellor's box in the summer of 1936 during the two weeks competition. As he passed each section the crescendo of the crowd was deafening. Everyone was on his feet. When a chant began–first as a whisper, then as a resounding chorus of voices, "Jesse Owens…Jesse Owens…Jesse Owens" resounded through the stadium and Jesse waved to the crowd as he passed them. Soon he finished his run and then slowly trotted to the box where Adolf Hitler sat throughout the Games. This time he was greeted by the mayor of West Berlin. The mayor, Ernst Reuter, raised his hand high and the crowd quieted. Then he spoke these words to the audience. "Jesse Owens…15 years ago Hitler refused to shake your hand. I will try to make up for it today by taking both of them."

Mayor Reuter reached out and grabbed Jesse's hands and warmly embraced them. Jesse waved to the crowd and again the chant of "Jesse Owens…Jesse Owens…Jesse Owens" resounded through the stadium as Jesse slowly trotted off through the portal he'd entered and slowly disappeared. It took Jesse Owens fifteen years to ever receive the acclaim and reward due him. It tested him and proved him. The indignity he suffered because he was black was overcome by the character that shame had produced in him. Your trials have a purpose. They are used to produce in you the best that God desires. They strip away what is fake, shallow and weak. They produce what is real, deep and strong. Crowds on earth may never call or chant your name but at last Jesus Christ will honor your unquestioned character and life.

Are you making the best from life's worst? There's a reason for it. It's purpose is to produce in me both now and for heaven the best I can ever be.

III. You make the best from life's worst with an enduring joy difficult to express. (v. 8-9)

Notice what Peter describes was happening in the lives of these Christians:

· They had never seen Jesus but they loved Him: Peter had seen Him but they loved Him simply on the basis of the word of others.

· They do not see Him now but they believed in Him: His physical presence is absent but they are convinced that there is an unseen presence more real.

· So without any tangible proof they currently, in their trial, "greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." Let those words wash over you--their joy in the face of trial was so great that it couldn't be expressed and they were so full of God's glory it was as if God was there in that trial with them. Full of joy and full of presence!

What do they get for this enduring joy? "The salvation of your soul." Not their stuff, not their body, but their soul, the deep down you that's in God's image that will live on. Because they stuck it out they were rewarded with what they really wanted--absolute salvation.

At 7:00 p.m. on the evening of October 20th, 1968, a few thousand spectators remained in the Mexico City Olympic stadium. It was cool and dark as the last of the marathon runners were carried off in exhaustion to first aid stations in the bowels of the stadium. More than one hour earlier Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia, as fresh as when he started the race, powerfully moved toward the finish line, the winner of the grueling 26 mile 385 yard marathon.

As the remaining spectators prepared to leave, those sitting near the marathon gate were suddenly aroused by the sound of sirens and the gunning of motorcycle engines. Policemen were blowing whistles and the quiet of the evening was shattered by sounds usually reserved for some emergency.

A few moments went by as the confused spectators looked toward the marathon gate. Then entering the stadium came a lone figure wearing the uniform of Tanzania. His name was John Stephen Akhwari. He was the last man to finish the marathon. His leg was bloodied and bandaged, and he grimaced with each step. He had severely injured his knee in a fall. As his full figure stepped onto the track for all to see, he painfully hobbled around the 400 meter track. The spectators who remained stood and began to applaud the courage of this man. It was as if they were receiving the winner. Now more than an hour after the champion had been crowned, John Stephen Akhwari was receiving the acclaim reserved for a champion. He painfully finished the run and crossed the finish line. Then slowly he walked off the field without turning to the crowd that cheered him.

Afterwards, one newspaper man wrote, "Today we have seen a young African runner who symbolizes the finest in the human spirit…a performance that gives true dignity to sport…a performance that lifts sports out of the category of grown men playing at games…a performance that gives meaning to the word 'courage'…all Honor to John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania."

Later Akhwari was asked why he did not quit since his task was so painful and he had no chance of winning a medal. "My county did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race," he said simply. "They sent me 7,000 miles to FINISH the race."

When the test is the toughest and the hardest and you want to quit, you were not given grace to only start but joy to finish. The presence of the Lord Jesus is with you, will you let that presence cause you to face the trial with a joy that can't be expressed? That's how you make the best from life's worst.

Conclusion: Our congregation over the last almost three weeks has been prayerfully supportive of Charlie and Cindy Fuller and their daughter, 14-year old Rachel. As most of you know, Charlie served us last summer as our interim music minister and was the leader of the OBU choir group on the American Airlines plane that crashed June 2 in Little Rock. Rachel died on Wednesday, June 16, from the burns and injuries she received in the crash. During Rachel's illness I had tried several times to speak to Charlie but could only leave messages. This past Monday I called the home and Charlie answered. I had wondered what I would say. What do you say? Where do you begin? I am thankful that all I needed to say was "hello" because Charlie just said it all.

There are moments of life where you realize you are in the presence of someone consumed by God's grace. Where you just know that you are entering a holy place. That's how I felt talking with Charlie. Here is what he said:

He told me that he saw in all that had happened that here was the chance to show the world how people of faith face trauma. That it was a time for him to live what he believed and that it was a privilege to be used to proclaim to all the world the greatness of God. He said that he hopes he feels the Lord's presence in the days to come as much as they have known that now. He sees that they were in a position to allow God to receive all the glory and that if he had it to do over that he wouldn't have done anything different. He said that that isn't easy to say when your daughter is in the ground but that their life would have been darker if they had not had her.

He knows that all of life is a gift. He freely says that there are waves of grief that come over them but that they cry out to God for themselves not for her. He has received some less than helpful advice from foolish individuals. He says that God didn't take Rachel away but that God accepts us when we come. He's happy for her that she is not here to endure what they feel. He said that the most important thing is that in her death there is a tremendous testimony of influence for Christ. He said ,"How many people at 80 would have the influence for Christ that she did at 14?". Then he said, "God is so good. The bottom line is that Rachel's life was a testimony and her light will continue to shine."

Now what do you say? Do you try to talk him out of his faith? Deny the one thing that is holding life together for him? I don't think so. What you do is marvel and take from it the living testimony to your life and mine that choosing to refuse defeat by life's worst is rewarded by the joy of God's best.

Sunday, June 27, 1999

Dr. Bruce Tippit, Pastor

First Baptist Church

Jonesboro, Arkansas

btippit@fbcjonesboro.org