The Christian marathon

The Olympic Games begin in Paris this Friday, July 26th. The United States will be represented by 592 athletes.

I’ve never been Olympic athlete material. But over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate the self-discipline and work that athletics require.

The Bible also takes note of that fact. The Olympic games began in 700 B.C., long before the New Testament was written.  So, it’s not surprising that sporting competitions are referenced in Scripture.   Here are a few of those mentions made by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:

“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.” 1 Corinthians 9:24.

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:25.

“I do not box as one beating the air.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control.” 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

These verses might raise some questions in the mind of someone who knows a little bit about the Christian faith.

After all, didn’t Jesus already win something far better than Olympic gold for us? Didn’t Paul write in 1 Corinthians 15:27, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”?

The answer is a resounding “Yes!”   

We are saved by grace through faith. Jesus lived the perfect life for me – the life that I should have lived but didn’t. Jesus died the death that I deserved to die, paying for all my sins. Yet He rose again from the dead because the payment for my sins was complete.    

Through faith in Jesus, I can know I am one of His forgiven children, blessed to inherit the gift of eternal life.

So what’s all this talk about still being in a race if Jesus has already crossed the finish line for me?

Our race is one of finishing life in faith.

Our goal is to finish our earthly lives while still clinging to the object of our Christian faith — Jesus Christ. Near the end of his life, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Despite all that Paul endured, anticipating martyrdom because of his Christian faith, Paul gives thanks that he continues to hold fast to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:1.

What can keep a person from finishing in faith? Let’s take a lesson from our Olympians. These athletes are in Paris because of some hard work and self-discipline. All kinds of diversions could have gotten in their way.

Paul encourages us to be disciplined about our prayer life, time in the Scriptures, serving others with our lives, and involvement in Christ’s bride… the church. Those practices require discipline. They aren’t going to write themselves onto your calendar for you.  Uber is not going to show up at your door on Sunday morning to give you a ride to church. These things require work and sacrifice. Living the Christian faith is not a ten-yard dash. It’s a marathon.

A few months ago, a few of my grown children ran a 5k with me.  They are in far better shape than their Dad. They finished long before I did.

My greatest joy was not in my finish time. It was seeing all of them at the finish line, knowing we were going to go out for pizza at My Father’s Place afterwards!  

Some day, I will cross the finish line of my years of life in this world.  That’s just reality. The mortality rate remains one for every one person.  When I cross the Jordan, I’m looking forward to seeing Christ Jesus at the finish line… who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross… for you and me.