Run for the Prize: 1 Corinthians:24-27
Maybe one of the most dramatic scenes in sports is the finishing lap of a marathon race
Here’s a man or woman, very fatigued and worn out pushing out those last few steps as he or she breaks through the tape at the finish line
I admire someone who would train and discipline their body for such a thing
What a thrill that must be to have trained and sacrificed to be the one who crosses the finish line!
Paul uses the analogy of a marathon race to compare it to the Christian life; the Christian life is a race for the prize
Marathon racing would be something very familiar to these early Christians living in a Greco-Roman world
And, it really was like a grueling marathon to those early Christians
Paul challenged these early Christians and I want to challenge you today to not just enter the race of faith…don’t just sit down and coast
but go all out!
Why don’t we go all out for Jesus!
Go all out and run to win…you’ve come this far, don’t give up!
God wants winners!
What are the keys to having victory running this Christian race?
- Determination
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So, run that you may obtain it.
I’ve never been in an actual marathon, but I know people who have
And everyone that has entered a marathon race that wants to win, doesn’t do it half-heartedly
They have a strong resolve to win the race
And I tell you: it isn’t enough just to be in the Christian race
You need to take your spiritual life seriously, push it to the limit, be committed
You can’t do it with half-hearted effort
Now, I’m not talking about working to “earn” your salvation…you can’t do that
Jesus paid for your salvation with his blood
But all of us who are in this Christian race can earn crowns at the end of the race
So, this Scripture is talking about making whatever sacrifice is necessary and go all out to win the crown!
God didn’t save you to sit on the sidelines…he wants you in the game
Running the race to win
The most coveted prize of the Roman empire was the wreath placed on the head of the champion
It was made of leafy greenery and placing that wreath on someone’s head meant instant fame, tax exemption and a free education to the winner
But just like that wreath, all those things faded away
Question: If a marathoner would be so dedicated to win a pine wreath that withered away and have short-lived fame…how much more should we be determined to gain the eternal, imperishable crown waiting for us at the end of our Christian race!
A second key to victory in the Christian race is:
- Discipline
25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
In the ancient games, victory depended on the athlete’s rigorous training.
Every runner entered strict training under the watchful eye of an official.
Marathon runners were known to work out for years—lifting weights, running laps, regulating sleep, restricting their diet.
Much the same way that athletes train today…the serious ones’ train to win
Self-control or discipline is key
Certain things must be key disciplines in the life of a Christian
Bible study, prayer and meditating on the Word of God
These are basic spiritual disciplines of the Christian life
Christians who have:
- great faith in God,
- love Jesus,
- love the church
- and love people
- are the ones’ who have disciplined themselves to find one on one time with God
They do it through Bible study and prayer…discipline
1 Timothy 4:7–8 (ESV)
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
A third key to victory in the Christian race is:
- Direction
When a runner embarked on a marathon, the officials didn’t turn him loose and tell him whenever he felt like he had run 26 miles then he could quit
No, the course was clearly marked with signs all along the way and the runner needed to stay on that course
He needed to stay on the course and keep his eyes on the goal
God has laid out for us in His Word the directions for us to follow to make it through life
As we meet here together each week we get direction from the Lord to run the next part of the course
As we meet together in Sunday School and on Wednesday nights, we get more instruction
How are you doing with your race?
Maybe the reason you’re having difficulty and you keep getting off course is because you haven’t been feeding yourself with the word of God…
Maybe you keep drifting around because you’re not following the signs
God’s way is a narrow way that includes every aspect of our lives
Winning the prize requires seeking direction from Scripture and following the course it requires
A fourth key to victory in the Christian race is:
- Denial
1 Corinthians 9:26 (ESV)
26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Athletes had to give up certain comforts and discipline their bodies
They sacrificed a life of ease and fleshly desires that would harm their bodies
The same self-denial is necessary for the committed Christian
Paul said, I don’t run aimlessly and I do not box as one beating the air
But he said I discipline my body. I don’t do everything my flesh wants to do
Do you know what makes Christians so worldly?
There is not enough denial
They do everything the world does and you can’t tell that they belong to God
Paul said I discipline my body and keep it under control
And the reason he was careful to do that, was that after preaching this to the Corinthian believers he would not practice it and be disqualified.
Again, not a loss of salvation…but a loss of reward at the end of the race
After the marathon in the old Roman Empire, all the runners were brought to stand before the raised, wooden platform in the middle of the track
On that platform was a throne-like seat for the judge
Each athlete would pass by the judge and would be crowned, passed over, or disqualified
2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV)
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ
Not for our sins…Jesus paid for those on the cross
But like those marathon runners, we will receive from Jesus rewards or lack of…according to what we have done since Jesus saved us
This is not fiction; this is truth from God’s word
So, every step of your Christian life has eternal importance.
Right now, counts forever!
Let us run with growing anticipation of that moment when we will stand before Christ and hear “well done”