I attended the Western Maine Christian Men’s Breakfast on a recent Saturday morning.  The guest speaker, a local pastor, started out by quoting 1 Cor. 13:11  “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 

He went on to speak about the need for Christian Men to act like grown men and put away immature thoughts and actions. 

From there he went on to facilitate a discussion on listing athletic metaphors from I Cor. 9:24-27; "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."  I Tim. 6:12; "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."  and II Tim. 4:7-8; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Then he asked us how these admonitions apply to our lives today.  We had wonderful and effective discussions in our small groups.  Before we left that day, he gave us a paper entitled, Going For The Gold.  It had six questions that I want to share with you.  They were:

1. How well are you running the race for Christ?
2. Why are you running this race?  What prize do you expect to receive?
3. What obstacles have come against you in living the Christian life?
4. What means do you use to conquer these obstacles?
5. In what spiritual "workout" can you participate that will help you run your race?
6. Who is running alongside of you that can/does help you in your quest of the gold?

These are excellent questions for all to consider in their Christian race.

He closed his remarks by having us consider Phil 3:13-14; "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those 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.” and Col. 3:1-3; “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

A man was discussing his tennis technique with a friend. He said, "My brain immediately barks out a command to my body: 'Run forward, and fast.'  It says, 'Start right now. Drop the ball gracefully over the net and then race back to position.'"

His friend replied, "And then what happens?"

He said, "And then my body asks, 'Who, me?'"

When it comes to most forms of exercise, tennis or whatever, our bodies often ask, "Who, me?'  And most of us have found that, as we age, our bodies keep asking more and more, “Who, me?”

As we age, our bodies don't respond as well as they once did. And most of us are not into any kind of exercise except for that hand-to-mouth exercise that we get at the dinner table. We're pretty good at that, but that's not an Olympic sport!

A lot of eyes were on the recent Olympics through means of television.  The most important thing about the Olympics is people. People from all over the world, competing in a sport they love and have talent in. Most of them are people like us but who have been blessed with a different talent than what we’ve been given.

We watched in admiration and appreciation. We may have even been somewhat inspired to do more in life, to work harder, etc. Inspiration often produces motivation. When someone does a good job, they inspire us to do the same. And we give thanks to God for being alive and being a part of this world of abundance.
God uses athletics in His Word to describe the Christian life.  Life is like the Olympics in many ways.

THE SPORTS

Preacher Vance Havner once said that Teddy Roosevelt had a little dog that was always getting in fights and always getting licked.  Somebody said, "Colonel, he's not much of a fighter, is he?"  The Colonel replied, "Oh, yes, he’s a good fighter.  He’s just a poor judge of dogs."

The Christian life is similar to running a footrace.  I Cor. 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

The Christian life is a tough act.  We need to give support to one another as best we can, not the least we can!

THE TRAINING

I Cor. 9:25 "And every man that striveth for the mastery …"

Training to compete in the Olympics is hard work, especially in certain foreign countries. Many athletes dedicate their whole lives to that one thing. They spend long hours every day training for their sport. It is tough physical, as well as, mental work.

How much training do Christian perform?  Any at all?  How does a person train themselves spiritually?  We train through Scripture and prayer. These are what build us up in the faith and make us able to live the Christian life.  Christians must train hard spiritually.

THE RULES

II Tim. 2:5  "If anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules."

Athletes don’t make the rules, just as we Christians don't make the rules when it comes to the Christian life.  We may try to make our own rules, but it doesn't work.  God makes the rules and we have to live according to them. Otherwise, we could be disqualified for the crown of life.

What is the greatest rule that God has given?  In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

The non-Christian world thinks Christians are bigoted when it comes to our faith in Christ, but it is God Himself who made this rule.  We only acquire the crown of life through faith in Christ, trusting in who He is and what He did for us on the cross.
This rule means that God gets the glory, not us.  If we were to win the crown by what we did, we would get the glory and this is not how the "game" is played or finished.  It is God who initiated love, not mankind.  It is God who sacrificed and gave His very best, not us.  He sets the rules.  He gets the glory. However, when we play by His rules we get the crown of life, the joy of heaven.

THE REWARDS

Phil. 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Obviously, the goal in the Olympics is to win the gold medal. Actually, any medal would be fine. We all prefer the gold, but sometimes we must settle for less.
The beauty of the Christian life, however, is that we are not striving to win a gold medal!  All we have to do is finish the race and God is going to give us a crown of glory that will last forever!  And it’s for everyone who crosses the finish line and no matter what place they finish!

I Cor. 9:25  "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

Rev. 2:10 "…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

That's the crown we're shooting for!  It's lasting!  It's eternal!  It's never-ending!  It's glorious!  Far better than any gold medal award here on earth!

Every believer needs to discover his or her purpose, the ultimate purpose or goal in life. Our goal in life is not winning gold medals no matter what form that may take: making money, having fun, chasing after rainbows or whatever. Our ultimate purpose or goal in life should be Heaven and to take as many people as possible with us!

May God help every Christian finish the race.

 ______________________________________________________________ 

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