Skating for Gold

There’s something about watching Canada men’s national ice hockey team in the Olympics that stirs something deep in the Canadian heart. The red and white jerseys. The maple leaf on the chest. The anthem playing before the puck drops. When Canada defeated Finland men’s national ice hockey team to advance to the gold medal game, you could almost feel the country lean forward together. Living rooms turned into arenas. Text messages lit up. For a few hours, it felt like the whole nation was united around one thing — hockey.

And whether Canada wins gold or not — by the time this devotional is read, that outcome will already be decided — something about our identity feels wrapped up in the game. Hockey isn’t just a sport here. It’s woven into frozen ponds, early morning practices, and childhood memories. It feels like part of who we are.

But here’s the question: What happens when the final buzzer sounds? If Canada wins, we celebrate. If they lose, we regroup. But either way, life moves on. The jerseys go back in the closet. The rink lights turn off. Even national pride fades into the routine of another week.

As Christians, our identity cannot be built on something that shifts with a scoreboard. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our lives are “hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Our truest identity is not Canadian first, not hockey fan first, not even pastor, parent, or profession first. Our identity is found in Christ. He does not change with the outcome. His victory was secured at the cross and confirmed at the empty tomb. There is no overtime in Calvary. No replay review on the resurrection.

Canada may or may not take home gold. But believers already share in a greater victory. Hockey can unite a nation for a night. Christ unites His people for eternity. A championship banner may hang in an arena. Our names are written in heaven. A medal may tarnish over time. Salvation never does