The Race

 

I have noticed something new on my walks these past few months. Several homes have added these workout centers to their yards. Stretched between two trees, this apparatus adds swings, rings and other various opportunities to exercise and stay fit to the children who live there. It also just looks like fun.

Paul writes to the Corinthians, “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. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

The world Paul lived in, like ours, was big on sports. As he watched the games, as he watched the athletes as they trained day by day, he could see parallels to the life of following Jesus. He believed we should be disciplined and focused. He believed the life of a disciple should be intentional. He believed we should prepare for the race we run in the day to day act of living. Athletes do the hard work for a temporary prize that fades quickly away. We, Paul says, are living toward an eternal reward of life in the presence of God.

The best part of living as Paul suggests is that the prize doesn’t just come at the end. We experience life with God in a deep and powerful way all along the race. It is easy to think in terms of the goal of the Christian life being obtained when the race is finished. But the goal of the Christian life is to experience God in the running of the race in ways that change us and blesses others through our service and love. We live the imperishable prize on this side of the finish line. If we live into the grace of God, the joy of the prize is already ours.

Peace.