USA Hockey Wins Gold

Sunday morning’s gold medal men’s hockey game turned into an all-time Olympic thriller as Team USA defeated their biggest rival, Canada, 2-1 in overtime. It had been 46 years since the USA won the gold in the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” and it was special to see the Americans back on top.

The much-anticipated, high-stakes game featured NHL stars from both countries and garnered the sports spotlight, with sports fans everywhere tuning in.

Team USA took a 1-0 lead after scoring in the first period, giving them hope, but Canada tied it up in the second. The third period provided more suspense and intensity, as both goalies made the saves needed to send the game to overtime at 1-1.

Less than three minutes into the extra period, America’s Jack Hughes scored the “Golden Goal,” giving Team USA the victory they had desired for almost a half-century.

It was a remarkable accomplishment as Americans everywhere celebrated the gold-medal winning team with a unified excitement, exuberance, and national pride. 

The fascinating part of this win is how invested and intrigued non-hockey fans were in this legendary matchup and how fired up they are about what this team has done.

I include myself in this group of sports fans who either pretended to be a hockey fan or embraced being one for a day. Although I don’t necessarily follow hockey or know much about the players, I couldn’t wait to tune in and see if Team USA could pull off the gold.  

The truth is, many sports fans haven’t watched hockey in years or only catch a game here or there, but this Olympic game captivated us. As we experienced the “sports high” that a win like this provides, becoming a hockey fan sounds pretty good now.

The question is, will all the people who rooted so hard for Team USA in this gold medal game actually begin following hockey, specifically the NHL, moving forward?

Did we fall in love with the sport and this team so much that we want to experience more hockey?

Do we want to get to know NHL players better, study their games, and follow their careers?

Did we realize just how amazing hockey truly is, and we are now all in?

Has this game truly changed our perspective on hockey, and do we want to keep pursuing the sport in a meaningful and consistent way?

Will this inspire us to attend games regularly or to join an NHL fan base?

Or…will this be a one-off game we experienced, and we won’t commit to watching hockey for the next four years until the next Olympics, when we show up again?

Was it just a moment or a feeling that is fleeting?

Will we let our “sports high” fade, and return to following the other sports we normally watch?

Will we remember the joy we felt when we saw the goal go in, but leave it at that, without allowing it to transform us into true hockey fans who live and breathe the sport?

What will happen next for everyone who knows Team USA won and witnessed that special gold medal game?

I can’t help but wonder how we answer similar questions about our own personal faith journey or those around us.

There are times someone experiences a “spiritual high” after an inspiring sermon, a powerful retreat, or an encouraging lunch with a friend. They get all fired up about God and wanting to live for Him and serve Him. They feel something special or have a memorable moment, and becoming a follower of Jesus sounds pretty good.

The question is, will we actually follow Jesus moving forward? Or are we just going to “show up every four years”?

Did we fall in love with Jesus so much that we want to experience more of Him every day, not just on Sundays or holidays or at a big event?

Do we want to get to know the character of Jesus, study His Word, and follow Him in all areas of our lives?

Did we realize just how amazing God truly is, and we are now all in?

Has His love and grace truly changed our perspective on life, and do we want to keep pursuing Jesus in a meaningful and consistent way?

Will we be inspired to regularly go to church and join a small group?

Or…will the “spiritual highs” be a one-off or confined to a Sunday morning or a holiday, and we won’t commit to surrendering to Jesus?

Was it just a moment or a feeling that is fleeting, or is our faith deeply rooted in our relationship with Jesus and His Word?

Will we let our “spiritual high” fade and go back to doing what we normally do, caught up in the world’s ways and our selfish desires?

Will we remember the joy we felt when we heard the Gospel message of God’s grace, but leave it at that, without allowing Him to transform us into true Jesus followers who live and breathe for Him and His glory?

What will happen next for everyone who knows Jesus won and has heard the good news of His death, resurrection, and offer of salvation?

Will we receive His gift of grace, repent, surrender our lives, and follow Jesus, living a life that bears fruit, marked by genuine faith?

In Scripture, Jesus teaches about the different types of responses we have to God’s Word and the Gospel, how the condition of our heart affects them, and compares seeds planted in four different types of soil.

In Mark 4:16-17 (NLT), Jesus says, “'The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s Word.'”

He continues in Mark 4:20 (AMP), “And those [in the last group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word [of God, the good news regarding the way of salvation] and accept it and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much [as was sown].”

As we've discovered, many sports fans have become overnight hockey fans through the emotional experience of Team USA winning gold. However, only some will establish deep roots, go all in, and intentionally follow the sport in the future, while others will fall away once the Olympic excitement settles down.

Today, in our own lives, let’s decide to wholeheartedly follow Jesus, continually build a deep faith in Him, and open our hearts to being transformed. Even when the excitement settles down or life gets tough, let’s be mindful to intentionally seek God, know His Word, and fellowship with Him forever.

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m grateful for the spiritual experiences I’ve had and the excitement and joy I’ve felt in certain situations and seasons. I pray that my faith continues to be deep-rooted, not just dependent on spiritual highs, but rather reliant on the truth of Your Word and Your faithful character. Help me to follow You consistently in all areas of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.