Welcome to the Winning Gold web site. This web site exists to communicate to Commonwealth Games spectators the good news about Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers to the world. The Commonwealth Games welcomes athletes from the 54 member states and territories of the Commonwealth and these games are one of the world’s greatest sporting competitions. To win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games must be one of the greatest achievements for any human being. Those few people who do win gold will greatly value their medal. However, even more valuable than a Commonwealth Games gold medal is life itself. Life is our most precious commodity. Jesus Christ offers us a life that will last forever and this prize is worth going after.
It is God who gives us life and sustains us. We are not simply the product of biological forces, we are created by a God who loves us and wants our lives to have purpose (Psalm 139). Because God created us, we are morally accountable to him and he rightly expects us to obey his will. Sadly, the very first human beings refused to obey God and deliberately broke his rules (Genesis 3). The consequences were enormous! This rebellion, or sin as the Bible describes it, destroyed the special relationship we had with God.
This is not just an event in history. What our first parents did affects all of us. Every human being has this same rebellious attitude that these first humans had; we all follow our own desires rather than living lives of obedience to God. We all sin. The Bible states that “All have sinned (done wrong) and have fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This is the ultimate human tragedy. God loves us and wants to be in a relationship with us. He wants to protect and encourage us as a father protects and encourages his children. However, our sin drives God away and makes a relationship with him impossible. What future do we have if we are cut off from the giver of life? The answer is – none. We will each face physical death, and after death will be judged by God for the wrongs that we have done.
This sounds terrifying, and it is! But there is good news. God loves us. He loved us so much he sent his own son into the world to save us (John 3:16). Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago in Israel. He lived a wonderful life of absolute perfection, caring for people and doing good. He healed the sick and restored the sight of blind people. He fed the hungry and gave hope to the oppressed. His miracles were proof that he really was God in human form. As he taught the truth about God and his ways he was opposed by many who did not want to hear this message.
His enemies had him arrested and crucified, but this was all part of God’s plan. Jesus died so that he could take the punishment for our sin. God who is the judge of everyone, punished Jesus for all the wrongs that we have done. Jesus willingly took this punishment because he loves us and wanted us to enjoy a restored relationship with God. Three days later he rose from the dead, not just to prove he was who he claimed to be, but also to forgive us and give us his own eternal life.
Eternal life is the greatest prize that anyone can have and it is available to all. Jesus wants to give us a quality of life that nothing else can. He wants to take away our guilt and make it possible for us to be brought into God’s family. We can know God as our father and receive the life he offers, a life that will last forever, even beyond our physical death.
You will probably never stand on a podium at the Commonwealth Games to receive a Gold Medal, but right now you can have something better. You can have complete forgiveness for all of your sin and eternal life – a future forever with God in heaven. If you would like to know more about this eternal life or you have any questions about the issue of faith, please get in touch by contacting:
Stephen McQuoid
GLO Centre
78 Muir Street
MOTHERWELL
ML1 1BN
Email: smcquoid@glo-europe.org