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To the Editor:
The eyes of the world was on China for the 2022 Winter Olympics that just ended. However, what China didn’t show is their persecution of Christians is increasing. China now bans children under 18 from attending a Christian Church with their parents. According to www.christianheadlines.com Chinese government is rewriting the Bible with Communist principles according to the Christian persecution watchdog group, The Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com). The Chinese Communist Party announced plans for revisions of the Bible including adding core socialist values and removing passages that don’t reflect communist beliefs. John 8, according to Chinese Communists, reads Jesus once said to the angry crowd who was trying to stone a woman who had sinned, “He who is without sin among you let him cast a stone at her. When his words came to their ears, they stopped moving forward. When everyone went out Jesus stoned the woman himself and said, I am also a sinner.” Jesus never stoned anyone and Jesus is without sin. The Communists for their evil lying rewrite of the Bible will receive the judgment of God. Christians in America will also receive great persecution if China’s plan is successful in taking over America by the end of 2024.
During the 2022 Winter Olympics in China we see the results of the perseverance needed to become a super athlete. The Bible in James 1:12 is a study in perseverance. “Blessed is the man that endures temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord(Jesus) has promised to them that love him.” In the case of the Olympics the athlete isn’t seeking the crown of life, but a medal that represents the hard work and dedication it takes to perform on the world stage of the Olympics. It’s far better to receive a crown from Jesus than Olympic medals. It’s far better to hear Jesus say “well done good and faithful servant” than be on television and have your 15 minutes of fame. Moses is mentioned in Hebrews 11 as a great hero of the faith who gave up the palace, riches and power of Egypt to have the eternal benefits of serving God.
It’s beneficial for parents to encourage their children to stay active and love sports. However, it’s of the highest importance that parents encourage their children to love Jesus and have a personal relationship with Jesus. Commentators told stories of the Olympic athlete who put his skis on for the first time at the age of four and “never took them off” and the ice skater began skating at a very young age after watching the Olympics on television. A dream was born in the mind of these young lives. A moment captured in the memory and they could see themselves in that moment of glory in the future. They began the years of work and dedication it takes to become an Olympic athlete. Athletes like Colby Stevenson are examples of perseverance. He not only trained hard but had difficult setbacks which he overcame. Stevenson was severely injured in a rollover accident in Oregon six years ago in which he received multiple injuries. He overcame that and earned a silver medal after his second place finish in the men’s Big Air ski event final. When he returned to skiing after a long recovery from injuries, Colby said his focus changed from winning to being grateful to travel and live and compete.
Christians are called to focus on Jesus and our soon rapture and travel to Heaven. The Bible in Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Christians are called to the greatest race of all. Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The Bible says the righteous may fall seven times. Your friends and family are watching you fall and encouraging you to get back up and start again. The hard work and perseverance are worth it. People on earth and in Heaven are watching you train for the high calling, the prize! Only those that have the prize have a glorious future because the prize controls the future. Jesus is the prize and Revelation 5 says Jesus alone is worthy to take the scroll, the title deed to earth, and open the scroll and control the future. All Christians will soon be singing from Heaven. “Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb (Jesus) for ever and ever!”

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton