Winning the prize

by Arno Wiebe

This summer, young people from 197 countries will participate in the Olympic Games at Atlanta, Georgia. After years of strenuous training, they will pursue their dreams of winning a gold, silver or bronze medal.

The Olympic Games began in the valley of Olympia in Greece in 776 B.C. By the first century, when Paul travelled through the Roman Empire preaching the gospel, they had become major events. Along with the Olympics, the Isthmian Games were celebrated near Corinth every two years, and Paul may have attended some of the events during his ministry in Corinth.

Since the games were such a passion for people, Paul used them as an analogy for the Christian life. He sought to spur the believers on to joyful and vigorous obedience in the running of the Christian race. In this year of the Olympics, his words are also a good challenge for modern believers.

1. We enter the Christian race when we respond to the call of the gospel.

The announcer at the ancient games was called a herald. He "heralded" the runners to the starting line to get set for the race. Similarly, Paul called himself a herald of the gospel. He reminded the Corinthians that he had "heralded" Jesus Christ among them (II Corinthians 1:19). Their response to the gospel meant that they had come to the starting line of the Christian race. We, too, when we respond to the gospel, stand at the starting line of the Christian race.

2. Running the Christian race means running the course marked out for us.

In Paul's day, athletes ran on a course about 620 feet in length called a stadion, a word Paul used in I Corinthians 9:24.

Paul explained to the Ephesian elders what it meant for him to run the Christian race. He told them that he was on his way to Jerusalem and expected to face serious difficulties and possible imprisonment. The elders pleaded with him not to go. Paul replied, "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me" (Acts 20:24). One translation puts the heart of Paul's testimony thus: "If only I may complete the course marked out for me." So Paul ran the race marked out for him. At the end of his life, he could say, "I have finished the race" (II Timothy 4:7).

The same thought is expressed in Hebrews 11, which lists many Old Testament heroes of faith. The writer exhorts his readers, "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1).

It's exciting to know that this is still true today. We're not here by chance. We're here by God's purpose and plan. In this time in history and in this place we live, God has marked out for us a race to run.

3. Running the Christian race requires staying in condition.

In the Olympic Games, the conditioning happened during the months of training before the race was run. It included specific exercises and a rigid diet. In the Christian race, the conditioning happens after we enter the race, and becomes a lifelong pursuit.

Paul said, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things" (I Corinthians 9:25, NASB). The word "competes" in this verse means "struggles". Exercising self-control is always a struggle. Our old, sinful nature desires what is selfish and sinful. Our new life in Christ desires to follow God's will. "These two forces within us are constantly fighting to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures" (Galatians 5:17, TLB).

Does that sound tedious and discouraging? It shouldn't, for victory is possible when we lay hold of God's provision for us. Paul said, "To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me" (Colossians 1:29). We are not in a short sprint but a marathon race. By God's grace and power, we keep at it through all the ups and downs of our experiences.

Years ago, I read these words on a church bulletin board: "It ain't a shame to fall by the wayside, but to lay and grunt there, is." When we stumble and fall, we need to confess our failure, get up and get going again.

4. Our goal is to win the prize.

In Paul's day, winners at the Olympics received a pine wreath or a chaplet of flowers. About that prize Paul said, "They do it to get a crown that will not last."

Then Paul gave the great contrast: "But we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (I Corinthians 9:25). Unlike the Olympic athletes, we Christians are not in competition with one another. Our crown is not for just one winner but for all believers who run the race marked out for them. Moreover, unlike an Olympic wreath, our wreath will last forever. It's called "the crown of righteousness" (II Timothy 4:8), "the crown of life" (James 1:12) and "the crown of glory" (I Peter 3:21). What a grand picture of the splendour of God's people in their forever home!

That's the prize Paul talked about when he said, "Run in such a way as to get the prize" (I Corinthians 9:24) and "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phillipians 3:14). In the light of that prize, we can also say with Paul, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).

Arno Wiebe is a retired MB pastor. He and his wife are members of Kingwood Bible Church in Salem, OR.

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