There is no doubt that nothing attracts a larger number of crowds today than sporting events in any parts of the world. It is estimated that more than four billion people watch the Olympic Games on television; and half the world population watch the World Cup (football) finals. Millions watch the most important matches of basketball games, tennis and golf of the year. The cricket games played and watch by millions Indians shows its ruling power in the sub-continent. Multitudes enjoy some kinds of entertainment for hours and hours. The researchers proved that more than eighty percents of the world population played one or another sports/games in their life time.
Millions of people go to sports stadiums as sports enthusiast, as player’s fans or for entertainment, and millions follow other stars in the world of music, cinema, politics etc. hundreds and hundreds of idols are observed and followed daily, by men and women like us. These heroes, however, don’t know or recognize who their followers are, and can’t do anything personally for each and every one of them. And the crowds never realize their foolishness that their idols never know them. But this does not seem to matter for the crazy people; many people just live for their hour of entertainment for a temporary self satisfaction.
If this is their only interest, then a multitude of people are without true direction, hope or meaning in their lives. They live happily during these brief moments of diversion while their time gradually runs out. When death strikes a loved one, they cry desperately because they don’t know what to do for them. Some people even turn against God, thinking that He is to blame for their own errors. And so they ask; what is the reason for living? Millions ask the reason and meaning of their life on earth, and the answer is only in Him that believes.
Then there are millions of families who don’t know what it is to have good family relationships. No-one has spoken to them about how to improve their family lives. Parents can be cruel to their children instead of giving their love. Millions of young people are out looking for diversion in unhealthy or emotionally destabilizing ways, in substances that lead to their own destruction or even death. There are millions of children who die without even knowing that someone loves them.
No doubt, everyone is getting nearer to their death, but not to forget that we are born to die once, and to die means going back to our eternal home. Some go holding their heads up high, defying what they know will be the consequences of their sin, while others lament their lives and their misfortunes. But they too are condemned to their sin, because they have turned their backs on God, and they don’t want to hear about Him…although some others might be, if someone had dedicated some time to sharing with them.
So, millions of people base their hopes on material possessions which have no future, others grasp at religions which make no sense, and many are full of fear for what could happen. There are men and women who are cheated by those who ‘buy and sell the truth’, people who are not concerned about their final destination. Many go to hell by way of false teaching, sects and the so-called ‘enlightened ones’- so many people whose future is eternal condemnation.
Compassion is to show you have passion for others, and to have passion for others means, to go and give them Christ that, they too will know the truth and the truth shall set them free from all worries and condemnation. “When He (Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them…” Matthew.
Dr. Thamsing D. Lamkang
International Sports Chaplain
