THE ATHLETE
1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
The metaphor of the athlete here connotes many things for the believer. There is a prize to be won at the end of the race. The athlete’s goal is to win the prize. Others are also aiming to win the same trophy. Therefore there is competition. One must strive to perform better than all the others- outrun, out-box and out-shine them all-else the trophy goes to someone else! By the time you win the trophy and the medals, the jubilation that follows justify the efforts that went on behind doors before one gets to the level.
The Christian is an athlete. You are striving for a heavenly crown. It is a race you are running and which you cannot afford to lose. You must win. To win, you must live the life of a sportsman. You need the discipline of an athlete. On the average, he is on a diet and exercises to keep fit for the competition. As you are striving for a greater trophy – the heavenly crown- you cannot afford less discipline. Exercise yourself to godliness. An athlete does not eat all kinds of food and drinks of all kinds. No. He eats and drinks with his goal in view.
In every sport, there are rules and regulations; you must compete according to the rules or you will be disqualified. In a hundred meter dash for instance, no matter how fast you run, if you leave your lane, you will be disqualified from the prize. Christianity is about rules. We must observe them if we must gain heaven on the last day. Another thing about the athlete is focus. Have you noticed that athletes perform (and even train) with the minimum of clothing? They strip down so that nothing would restrain their physical movements. In like manner, you must put aside any habit that can distract you from your goal of obtaining the prize. Keep your eyes on the end line. Run towards it. Be totally committed to reaching your goal. Do away with distractions. Put in maximum efforts. Do your best. Keep your eyes on the trophy. By God’s grace, you shall win the crown and reign with Christ eternally. We shall rejoice together on that last day before the throne of God.
MEDITATION: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; Philippians 3:13-14
