With this in mind, let me tread carefully into this same topic just as the Apostle Paul did, but from a different passage of Scripture. Let me begin with a lesson on the history of the Olympic games. The modern Olympics started in 1896. That was after a period of about 1500 years since the ancient Olympics had ended in about 394 A.D. It is unknown as to the exact time in which they began. Records date to about 776 B.C. They were originally held in Olympia, Greece. I had the privilege of visiting Athens in 1980 and saw the ruins of the ancient Olympic stadium. Some might say I attended those first games, but I'm not quite that old!
The athletes were honest for the most part, signing a pledge that they would not cheat and that they had followed all the rules of training. The judges all came from the region around Olympia known as Elis, because the Elean people had a reputation for fairness. The winners of the various events were awarded a crown made of olive leaves. Paul often referred to the games as an illustration of how to live the Christian life.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul says, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." Here he refers to the idea of the Christian life being like the race run at the Olympic games. "All run," after proper training, "but one receives the prize." The idea is to live your life in Christ in such a way that you may obtain that prize.
Paul, however, holds out the possibility that, as those running the race of the Christian life, we might all be able to obtain the prize. He adds in verse 25 that "everyone who competes for the prize exercises self-control in all things." Why? Because, unlike the Olympic athlete who competes for a crown of olive leaves which is "perishable," we compete for "an imperishable crown" to be received at the end of the race in heaven.
Note how Paul tells the Philippians that even he is not yet perfect in his Christian life. He says, "But I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Phil. 3:12). He continues, "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (vs. 13-14). He adds in verse 16, "To the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
In other words, live by the rule of Scripture, just as athletes train by the rules of their games. Discipline yourself to spend time daily in the Word of God, to know it and to make it the rule of your life. Spend time in prayer, getting to know God personally. Ask God to develop in you a life like that of Christ. Ask Him to guide you in all things through the Holy Spirit who indwells you who believe on Jesus.
If you trust Jesus as your Savior, and look to Him and Scripture to guide your life, you can finish the race that is set before you and receive the imperishable prize God has reserved for you. Paul tells us, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). Amen.
Paul, however, holds out the possibility that, as those running the race of the Christian life, we might all be able to obtain the prize. He adds in verse 25 that "everyone who competes for the prize exercises self-control in all things." Why? Because, unlike the Olympic athlete who competes for a crown of olive leaves which is "perishable," we compete for "an imperishable crown" to be received at the end of the race in heaven.
Note how Paul tells the Philippians that even he is not yet perfect in his Christian life. He says, "But I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Phil. 3:12). He continues, "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (vs. 13-14). He adds in verse 16, "To the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind."
In other words, live by the rule of Scripture, just as athletes train by the rules of their games. Discipline yourself to spend time daily in the Word of God, to know it and to make it the rule of your life. Spend time in prayer, getting to know God personally. Ask God to develop in you a life like that of Christ. Ask Him to guide you in all things through the Holy Spirit who indwells you who believe on Jesus.
If you trust Jesus as your Savior, and look to Him and Scripture to guide your life, you can finish the race that is set before you and receive the imperishable prize God has reserved for you. Paul tells us, "Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8). Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment