COMPETING FOR THE PRIZE

 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1 Corinthians 9: 25

                For the past week or so we have been watching the unfolding events at the Tokyo Olympics. Of course, much of the spotlight has been on Simone Biles, who for very personal reasons pulled out of the gymnastics competition. But if we can get past all of the rhetoric swirling around Simone’s decision, we are reminded about just how amazing the stories are of every athlete who is competing in these games. Everyone of them has had to make enormous personal sacrifice to be Olympians. The postponement of the games for a year only added to the burden these athletes have carried. The vast majority of these athletes will give their all knowing that their chances of standing on the medal podium are slim to none. Yet they compete for the joy of being an Olympian.

                Long before the modern Olympics came on the scene, the games took place. In addition to the Greek Olympics there was the Corinthian games. As Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, he thought about those games. In them he saw a parallel to the Christian life. Just as the athletes who competed in the games had to train in order to perform at their highest level, so believers needed to train themselves to be able to shine for Christ.

                Olympic athletes sacrifice and train for the chance to stand in the spotlight for a brief moment. Christians sacrifice and train to be able to stand in the glory of God for eternity. The athletes who won the games in the ancient world were rewarded with a laurel wreath placed on their head. It was a symbol of honor, yet it quickly faded away. Today the Olympic athletes compete to receive a gold, silver or bronze medal. Although the actual medal will endure, the glory of standing on the podium quickly fades. One momentary celebration is quickly eclipsed by the results of the next event.

                Paul told the Corinthians that as believers in Christ, we do not compete for receive momentary glory, but to receive the eternal prize of life with Christ. Just as the goal of winning an Olympic medal is the motivation for athletes, so the goal of winning an eternal prize should be the motivation for ever believer. As Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Cor. 9:24) Paul’s point is that with what is at stake, we should strive to do our best to win the prize.

                Many of us are like weekend athletes when it comes to out faith. We put in just enough effort to play the game on the weekend. If something else comes up, we set aside the game to pursue that. Every day of an Olympic athlete’s life is focused on one goal; to win the prize. Paul is challenging us to have the same level of commitment. Everyday of our lives should be focused on one goal; to win the eternal prize. That means that we need to discipline our minds, bodies, and souls to accomplish our goal. We can choose to just get-by by being spiritual weekend warriors, but we will forfeit the rewards that God has in store for us if we do. Instead. Paul challenges us to be spiritual Olympic athletes.

                Bottom line, how we live our daily lives matters. It matters to God and it should matter to us. We will not be perfect in our efforts. There will be days when we fail to step up to the challenge. But we should always keep the goal in mind. We should live lives worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus.

                Paul was very serious about competing for the prize. He continued in 1 Corinthians 9 with these words. “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

                There are many things in life that we will strive for, that we will sacrifice for, that we will give our lives to. Many of these things are noble and worthy of our efforts. But there is one thing that should rise above all the rest; living a life that is focused on winning the ultimate prize in Christ; to stand in His glory and hear those words, well done good and faithful servant.

Colossians 1:10-14 (NIV)
                And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.