RUNNING THE RACE

Watching the seemingly super-human effort of Michael Phelps during this year’s Bejing Olympics, I had to think about the preparation and training that this man has gone through for such an accomplishment to be possible.  Phelps started training at an early age, and he has committed his life to becoming the best at his sport.  The hours and years that he has spent perfecting his technique, and improving each style of stroke, as well as the personal sacrifices that he has made, have paid off in the last two Olympics to make him the greatest Olympian of all time. 

 

As I think about the dedication of Phelps, and of all the other great athletes that competed during the 2008 Summer Olympics, I’m reminded of Saint Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippians where he writes, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8).  Further, he said, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (v. 14).  It’s all about setting our eyes on the prize, and counting it worthy of whatever cost it takes us to obtain it.  We are called, as Christians, to dedicate our lives to the Lord.  We are told to present our bodies as “a living sacrifice” to God; and this is considered simply our reasonable service, not anything extraordinary.  Michael Phelps would not have been happy with a silver or bronze medal.  His goal, and all of his effort, was that he obtain would the highest prize.  The prize that we aim for is the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, and it requires all of our effort, and a good deal of personal sacrifice, to achieve it.

 

Paul writes, “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” (1 Corinthians 9:25).  Great athletes learn to control their habits.  They know if they go out drinking, if they smoke, if they don’t watch their diet, or if they just stay up too late, they may jeopardize winning the prize for which they are competing.  If they are willing to do this for a piece of medal and earthly acclaim, how much more should we be willing to temper our lives, knowing that we are competing for an everlasting crown?  We should “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and. . . run with patience the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1).  Can you imagine a runner carrying a heavy weight into a race?  That’s what we do when we allow sin or worldly pleasures to govern us and our actions.  They cripple us spiritually so that we cannot focus on the goal.  The term “Christian” means, “those who follow Christ;” and every Christian is called to be a “disciple,” which means, “one who is disciplined.”  It is time for us to quit treating our religion as if it were a social club, or a hobby, or a pleasant pastime, and realize that we are in training for the biggest prize of all: the salvation of our souls.

 

As we progress in Christ, and the storms of life buffet our ship, I am convinced that we will find that we must throw some things overboard to keep from sinking.  It is not on those things that we want to focus, however, but on our eternal reward.  It is Jesus Who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith.  It is our love for Him that motivates us, and helps us “count as dung” anything that we may sacrifice along the way.  As the song says, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.”

 

 

Let’s place our hand in the strong hand of Jesus, and let Him coach us through this life.  Let’s allow Him to put us through the paces, and hone us into spiritual Olympians.  It’s simply a matter of listening to His voice and allowing Him to discipline us according to His will and purposes for our life.  We must be wary, though.  There are those who would shape us after their program, and not after Christ.  They may even offer us shortcuts, but “a man is not crowned except he strive lawfully.” (2 Timothy 2:5).  Let’s be sure that it is the Lord Who is guiding us.  He will speak to us through His Word and His Holy Spirit and reveal His will for us if we are attentive. 

 

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17).