No Olympic medalist will ever tell you the prize came easily. Successful athletes spend years of extensive training, preparing for the day they will match themselves against other competitors to see who is the fastest, strongest, steadiest. To the athlete, the prize is well worth the many hours spent in training. It’s true. Good things seldom come without cost.
This truth applies in the spiritual world as well. When you read about the great spiritual heroes in the Bible, or when you admire the strong faith of your parish priest or church pastor, don’t assume that the same walk with God is not available to you also. You have just as much opportunity to walk closely and powerfully with God as they have. The question is this: Are you willing to pay the same price they went through in order to be filled with God’s powerful presence? Spiritual exercise doesn’t come without exercise. You cannot be spiritually lazy and vibrant at the same time. It’s not possible to neglect reading your Bible and ignore the place of prayer and still become a strong Christian. There is a price to pay for an intimate walk with God. The apostle Paul says if we are willing to do whatever is necessary in order to run the race of the Christian life well, the prize will be more than worth our effort.
Don’t you know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize? You must run in such a way that you may win the prize. Everyone who competes in an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a crown that is temporal, but we do it to win a crown will last forever. So when you run, run with that clear goal in mind. (1 Corinthians 9:24-26)
This truth applies in the spiritual world as well. When you read about the great spiritual heroes in the Bible, or when you admire the strong faith of your parish priest or church pastor, don’t assume that the same walk with God is not available to you also. You have just as much opportunity to walk closely and powerfully with God as they have. The question is this: Are you willing to pay the same price they went through in order to be filled with God’s powerful presence? Spiritual exercise doesn’t come without exercise. You cannot be spiritually lazy and vibrant at the same time. It’s not possible to neglect reading your Bible and ignore the place of prayer and still become a strong Christian. There is a price to pay for an intimate walk with God. The apostle Paul says if we are willing to do whatever is necessary in order to run the race of the Christian life well, the prize will be more than worth our effort.
Don’t you know that in a race all the runners run but only one wins the prize? You must run in such a way that you may win the prize. Everyone who competes in an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a crown that is temporal, but we do it to win a crown will last forever. So when you run, run with that clear goal in mind. (1 Corinthians 9:24-26)
Athletes are willing to push themselves harder and longer and farther than anyone else. They strive to bring their bodies and minds completely under control so that they excel and receive a prize. Others go home to relax, but athletes continue to train. While most people protect themselves from any form of discomfort, athletes push themselves to the limits of their endurance. While some remain satisfied with mediocre performance, athletes pay any price for excellence. The Apostle Paul said that despite their most valiant efforts, the athletes’ successes and prizes are eventually forgotten. Even the greatest athletic achievements have not affected eternity.
If an athlete can be motivated to make incredible sacrifices for a perishable reward, how much more ought Christians to strive for an imperishable one? How much motivation do you need to realize that what you are striving for is eternal life? If an athlete will labor day after day in order to receive praise and glory from others, how much harder will you work to hear the word “well done” from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? Are you striving to bring your body into subjection for the glory of God? Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts of the world? Are you disciplining your life in prayer? When others are sleeping, are you interceding? Have you studied God’s word so diligently that you are prepared to find answers to the challenges you face? Have you equipped yourself in evangelism so that you are ready to share your faith? Have you prepared yourself as a Christian in order to qualify for the everlasting crown that awaits you? How much motivation do you need to run the God has set for you in this life?
At the end of the race, can you also say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
If an athlete can be motivated to make incredible sacrifices for a perishable reward, how much more ought Christians to strive for an imperishable one? How much motivation do you need to realize that what you are striving for is eternal life? If an athlete will labor day after day in order to receive praise and glory from others, how much harder will you work to hear the word “well done” from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? Are you striving to bring your body into subjection for the glory of God? Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts of the world? Are you disciplining your life in prayer? When others are sleeping, are you interceding? Have you studied God’s word so diligently that you are prepared to find answers to the challenges you face? Have you equipped yourself in evangelism so that you are ready to share your faith? Have you prepared yourself as a Christian in order to qualify for the everlasting crown that awaits you? How much motivation do you need to run the God has set for you in this life?
At the end of the race, can you also say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
There is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun! The success of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also by how well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they stumble or are injured or lack the stamina to finish, their good start is useless. Apostle Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race but he had also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled with God’s powerful presence.
The Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically, but as the pressures mount, they lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage. They quit the race, and fall into the sidelines. Many would even say the moment they find the obstacles too hard to supass that "this is probably not God's will for me".
The Apostle Paul described His Christian life as "a battle". There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Apostle Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal, and even death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered. He knew what it takes, and he kept his sight on Jesus.
"Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING TO JESUS the Author and Finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2
Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish. Publicly announcing your commitment to Christ in your church does not compare with a lifetime of devotion to His cause. Use the Apostle Paul as your model. Live your life in such a way that you can one day conclude, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!”
The Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically, but as the pressures mount, they lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage. They quit the race, and fall into the sidelines. Many would even say the moment they find the obstacles too hard to supass that "this is probably not God's will for me".
The Apostle Paul described His Christian life as "a battle". There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Apostle Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal, and even death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered. He knew what it takes, and he kept his sight on Jesus.
"Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING TO JESUS the Author and Finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:1-2
Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish. Publicly announcing your commitment to Christ in your church does not compare with a lifetime of devotion to His cause. Use the Apostle Paul as your model. Live your life in such a way that you can one day conclude, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!”
Run the race that is set before you. No one can run it for you. It's a race only you can run. It's a race you must finish.
When you run, there's only one thing you have to keep in mind: Focus on Jesus.
When you run, there's only one thing you have to keep in mind: Focus on Jesus.
Godspeed!
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