Bible outlines four keys to victory

It’s been called the most dramatic scene in all of sports — that moment when the lonely marathoner re-enters the Olympic stadium for the final lap of the grueling 26-mile race. As the exhausted figure presses to the finish line, the crowd rises to its feet to cheer him on. Straining every muscle in his body, the runner pushes through the tape. Before the watching eyes of the world he is awarded a gold medal.

This famous race — the marathon — began almost 2,500 years ago after the famous battle of Marathon. A Greek soldier, Pheidippedes, was dispatched to run to Athens with the message of victory. He ran through the night and delivered the news before collapsing dead from exhaustion. Instantly, Pheidippedes became a national hero; a symbol of patriotism and dedication. Thus, the marathon was born.

The Apostle Paul compared the Christian life to this grueling event. The marathon race was well-known to the first-century Christians. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers who lived only 10 miles from the famous Isthmian Games. The Isthmian Games were second in importance only to the Olympic Games. He challenged them to not merely enter the race of faith, but to go all out and to run in such a way as to win. God desires us to be winners, not losers.

In our present sports-crazed culture perhaps no biblical metaphor better illustrates the reality of living for Jesus Christ than this picture. What are the keys to winning? 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 will guide us to the prize. Specifically, there are four keys to winning in the greatest race of all.

Determination

The Scriptures read, “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” (verse 24). The ultimate example of running the race of faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. He ran with great determination. Isaiah 50:7 says that Jesus set his face like a flint to go to Jerusalem. He pressed ahead to the cross to die for our sins. He went knowing that God the father was with him. You also can press ahead with great determination in your Christian life. Hebrews 13:5 promises that God’s presence in your life is assured.

In the Isthmian Games the prize was a pine wreath. The wreath represented fame, acclaim and the life of a hero. Winners were immortalized much as they are today. But that “immortality” was just as mortal as the wreath itself. It was perishable. Christians do not run for a short-lived pine wreath or for fleeting fame. They run to receive a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8). That prize is imperishable.

Discipline

Paul wrote, “And everyone who competes for the prize is disciplined in all things” (verse 25). Contestants in the games had to prove rigorous training for 10 months. The last month was spent at Corinth with supervised daily workouts in the gymnasium and athletic fields. One person said, “There can be no victory where there is no combat.” Discipline is critically important to victory.

The disciplines of the Christian life include Bible study, prayer, meditation and church involvement. An undisciplined lifestyle — one marked by loose living — is a sure way to lose the race.

Direction

“Therefore I run thus: not without aim. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air” (verse 26). The Christian keeps his eye fastened upon Jesus, the author and finisher our faith (Hebrews 12:2). God has a divinely designed track known as his will. God’s will for your life is spelled out in the Bible. Winning the prize requires seeking direction from God’s word and following the course it requires.

The Bible always points to a narrow path. It is the hard way, the demanding way, the way of self-denial and the cross. It results in death to self but also God’s way, the way that is narrow, leads to eternal life. It leads to a relationship with God, his angels and his people.

Denial

He continued, “But I discipline my body and make it my slave …” (verse 27). The word discipline literally means “to hit under the eye.” Paul put his body into subjection, into slavery, to his mission of sharing the gospel. Paul shifts his metaphor from running to boxing. We must beat our bodies black and blue, wielding a series of knockout punches to our fleshly desires.

Most people, though, are slaves to their bodies. Their bodies tell their minds what to do. Their bodies decide when to eat, what to eat, how much to eat, when to sleep, etc. An athlete cannot allow that. He runs when he would rather be resting. He eats a balanced meal when he would rather have a chocolate sundae. He goes to bed when he would rather stay up.

We must pursue personal holiness with total commitment. Winning the crown is not automatic. Even the great Apostle Paul feared “… lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (verse 27). Winning the prize requires obedience to God’s word. Are you buffeting your body? Where do you need to be fully obedient to God?

Paul wrote, “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (1 Corinthians 15:57). At the end of our race, we will be summoned to stand before the Lord Jesus. At this tribunal, he will review how we ran our race. He will either bestow or withhold his reward. Every step of the Christian life has eternal importance. Right now counts forever.

We must run our race with growing anticipation of that future moment when we will stand before Christ. In that final day, may he place the imperishable crown upon our heads, as we say, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be reached at ehansen@biglakefaithbible.org.