One could almost say that America is a nation that is built on competition. Whether speaking of education, business, entertainment, or what have you--so many facets of our lives are overrun with the competitive spirit. While it's true that we're constantly surrounded with this attitude, at no time is it more visible than it is during the Summer Olympics. For two weeks, beginning in August of next year, American athletes will compete with those of other nations, each one striving against the other for the glory and honor that comes with a gold medal in their event. This upcoming Olympics will be held in Athens, Greece--which is no stranger to hosting the event, since the very first of our modern competitions was held there back in 1896. Yet, long before then, there were similar competitions held in Greece; in fact, in New Testament times, there were four cities that held periodic competitions such as ours--one of which was held near Corinth.
The Apostle Paul was familiar with these games, and in fact, it seems he alluded to them in 1 Cor 9:24-27. There, he was comparing the Christian's way of life with that of an athlete--which the Corinthians would readily identify with. He began, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." Paul was saying that many run, but only one is victorious--and we must have that same attitude in our lives as Christians. Not that we are competing with one another; but we are running for a prize. This being so, we can't afford to live as if each day is ordinary to us--each moment is a critical one in the Christian's race!
He continues, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." The athletes in these games had to have a great deal of self-control in order to compete; for ten months before the competition, they would train regardless of weather, in both heat and cold, and under a strict diet. The prize that they so diligently worked for was a victory wreath--a crown of leaves that was given to the winner of the contest, a symbol of triumph. Here, Paul says that the competitors in the games exercise self-control for a crown that will fade away to dust; but we run for a crown that will never fade! "Therefore," said he, "I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." Paul had purpose in life--and so should we! Everything he did, he did whole-heartedly; and we are expected to do that as well. As he also wrote in Colossians 3:23,24 (particularly to slaves, but equally applicable to us), "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."
When Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi, he again compared his efforts with that of an athlete. In Phil 3:11-14, he spoke of attaining "to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect [Paul knew that the prize isn't achieved until the race is finished], but [he said,] I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." When he stated that he was forgetting what lies behind, he wasn't speaking of the sins he had previously committed, or earthly, or worldly things; but rather, in context, he spoke of forgetting the things he could have boasted about--the glorious things of his past. He wanted only those things found in Christ. Yet, the same principle would apply to anything that might divert our attention. So, just like one running in a race, Paul did not look back. He dropped everything in a single-minded effort to reach the goal.
Do you remember the parable of the soils recorded in Mark 4? Someone was sowing seed on various soils, and in verse 7, "...seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop." When giving the parables interpretation in verses 18 and 19, Jesus said of this kind of soil, "...these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." In the same way that distractions can cause a physical race to be lost, allowing your attention to wander spiritually can cause disaster.
The writer of Hebrews gave a powerful picture of the Christian's race in verses one and two of chapter twelve. He began in the previous chapter, having described several of God's people that in times past were willing to endure terrible trials simply because they had faith in God. We then see these great individuals all around us, as if in a vast amphitheater watching us in the race: "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us..." These spectators would not be ordinary onlookers; they have all suffered more than you or I have suffered, or likely will suffer in the future--and yet they have finished the race successfully. Their presence should tell us that it is indeed possible to finish the course. Not only that, without doubt they want us to win--just as God wants. 1 Tim 2:4 tells us that God "...desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." They would be cheering us on.
Since all these have gone before us successfully, he continues, "...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us [again, dropping anything that might hinder us in the race, whether worldly concerns or sin itself], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." He then names the chief example of one who has gone before us, and who finished the race perfectly, saying that we must be, "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Knowing that Jesus did this for our sakes, the writer finished, saying, "For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Surely we can endure a little while in this race for Him.
But one doesn't run a race for nothing; just as there is a reward in a physical contest, there is one in the spiritual as well. There will be difficulties in this life--things that will vie for our attention, and try to distract us; yet if we can only hold on for a little while, we will receive a great reward. We read in James 1:12, "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." That crown of life is the victor's crown--of the same sort that we read of at the start, in 1 Cor 9. If we persevere and are found faithful to God, when the time is right, He will reward us with eternal life.
Paul wrote another passage dealing with his race as a child of God--2 Tim 4:6-8. This is the last letter we have of his; and here, knowing that his time on earth was short, and having fought every day with every last ounce of strength, he wrote: "...I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing [i.e. Christ's return]."
Friend, what will happen as your years on this earth draw to a close? Will you be able to say, as Paul did, that you've fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith...or will you have allowed the things of this life to distract you? Do you, as Paul did, eagerly look forward to Christ's appearing...or does the thought of His coming rather frighten you? There is no need to be frightened; God wants you to succeed. As we read in Acts 2:38, you must repent, or turn away from sin, and be obedient to Him in baptism--and then run the Christian's race with endurance.
