Are you in it to win it?

This weekend marks the start of the summer Olympics 2021. With this in mind, let’s give thought to the most decorated athlete in the history of the Olympic Games, Michael Phelps.

Along with three silver and two bronze medals, he has won an astounding 23 gold medals. His level of commitment to a strict and rigorous training regimen has propelled him to the top tier of Olympic achievement. While I do not know his spiritual state, nor condone his every decision, his athletic prowess and accomplishments cannot be denied. Yet let me remind you, while his successes have been impressive, he has devoted himself to win a reward that one day he will be forced to leave behind. As the Bible states and experience has proven, we brought nothing into this world and we will carry nothing out. Even though we marvel at the triumphs of sports figures like Phelps, we must also remember that earthly achievement and accolades are fleeting and temporal.

In First Corinthians 9:24-27, the Apostle Paul urges the membership of the church to strive with all their might to win a reward that neither time nor death can take away; an eternal crown. In this passage, Paul uses a well-known sporting event to draw a comparison between the Christian life and the athletic competitions of the day.

Every two years, the city of Corinth would host the Isthmian games. These highly touted sporting events were second in popularity and prestige only to the Olympics. The city of Corinth lay on a tiny strip of land (an isthmus) that connected the Peloponnesian peninsula with the rest of mainland of Greece. Every other year, athletes and spectators, food vendors and gamblers would gather in the bustling port city of Corinth to observe these games. There they would revel in such events as chariot racing, boxing, wrestling and foot races. The finest specimens of human strength and endurance in the known world, would gather in Corinth to compete for a coveted “crown.” Interestingly, in comparison to the valuable medals that winners receive today, during this time period, the crown would be a simple wreath that was either woven pine needles or even composed of dried celery. Of course, the victor would also receive fame, fortune and recognition and would often be immortalized in stone statues while worshipped by adoring crowds.

Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit to use these current day sporting events as an example of the Christian life. We, too, are running a race. We, too, are competing for a reward. The difference, however, is that our race is spiritual, and our crown is eternal. Paul makes a point to say that the discipline and commitment of the Isthmian athletes should serve as an example of how the believer should lead his or her Christian life. History tells us that for a minimum of 10 months the competitors would commit themselves to a strict schedule of training and discipline. Every day the competitors had to decide whether to train or to “take it easy.” Every day they had to make a decision to restrict their diet or eat whatever they wanted. Each evening they had to decide whether to go to bed early so their bodies could rest, or to stay up late and enjoy the Corinthian nightlife. Every morning they had to choose to either wake up early and train, or sleep in and rest.

However, to the most committed athletes there was no decision to make … they would always and only do what would help them win the prize. Such is the parallel Paul intends to make in this letter to the Corinthians. He wants the Christian to commit themselves to living in such a way that every decision they make is one that will help them win the crown.

Christian, we, too, must decide whether to exercise ourselves unto godliness (1 Timothy 4:7) or to be spiritually lethargic. Like the Isthmian athletes, we, too, must choose whether to do the demanding and difficult activities that will aid us in our goal of winning a heavenly reward, or instead “taking it easy.” From a very practical point of view, this often means making the decision to put our devices down and picking our Bibles up. It means making the choice between sleeping in on Sunday or getting up and going to church. It means disciplining yourself to get alone with God and pray, or instead doing the things the flesh delights in.

However, for the committed Christian there is no decision to make. They want to win the crown. They want to please their Master. They want to hear the words, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” So, the dedicated disciple will discipline their lives and make decisions based on what will best assist them to “win the gold.”

My dear readers, we are not trying to earn salvation. That is not what Paul is talking about here. We could never live good enough to earn salvation. Instead, we must trust in the finished work of the Risen Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, and seek to serve Him and please the One who has saved our souls and called us to run this Christian race.

We can’t all be Michael Phelps, but every Christian can earn a crown to cast at Jesus’ feet! Are you in it to win it?

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