In Training

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.”

(I Corinthians 9:25)

Later this week, many of us will begin a schedule of sitting comfortably in our favorite chair with a cup of coffee or a soda and watch hundreds of young fit athletes from around the world compete in the Summer Olympics.  We will cheer them, grimace with them, and celebrate with them.  If my calculations are correct, there have been 29 summer games in 21 cities around the world, since they began in Athens, Greece in 1896. 

But competitive athletics were around back in the time of the Apostle Paul also.   The city of Corinth was host to the Isthmian Games.  In size and significance, second only to the Olympics.  Athletics consumed Pauls’ day as they will ours for the next two weeks or so.  In Paul’s day children as young as seven were put through rigorous exercises to prepare for the competition.  Obviously, they took the discipline seriously. 

Now if you’re like me, running races, fencing, swimming, rowing, weightlifting, and other physically strenuous activities have long faded out of my life.  There is no way this body can compete in anything – except maybe doing crossword puzzles.  But I don’t believe that is an Olympic event. 

However, the truth is you and I are still running a race.  Listen to Paul’s words from the 9^th chapter of I Corinthians – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run……. We do it to get a crown that will last forever.”  And just how do we do this?  Paul writes in verse 27 – “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave.” 

Paul is referring to self-discipline.  A willed, conscious decision about how we use our time, on what we set our affections, the way we approach all of life.  It is not about feelings and emotions.  It is not about doing what is right in order to get what we want.  Paul is talking about the sort of discipline in our hearts, minds, and souls that remains faithful to Christ and his word no matter what happens in our life and circumstances.  That means you and I are always, and at all times in training to discipline our spiritual life.

During ancient times, when a triumphant athlete returned to his city, he didn’t come home through the same gate from which he had departed.  He had a section of the wall broken down in his honor.  He entered through a brand-new gate.  That is a picture of what it will be like for us when our race down here is complete, and we enter our eternal home through new heavenly gates.

So yes, in the next couple of weeks, we will watch many athletes receive their medals of gold, silver, and bronze.  But you and I will discipline our spiritual bodies “to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”  (Philippians 3:14).  Stay strong, my friend.  The race will end in victory!

                                                          Darlene