The Christian Games

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you know know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."

In his first letter to the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul addresses a number of problem areas that he was made aware of in the church. Several false doctrines had crept in and he sought to correct them. In this particular section he is using his own life and position as apostle as an example of how to live the life of a believer. He exhorts the church to have the same attitude and heart in their devotion to a Christlike walk as an athlete would have who is trying to win a race. This analogy would hit very close to home to the Corinthians for they held the Isthmian Games in Corinth, second only to the ancient Olympic Games. Athletes were held in high esteem in the Greek culture and their fame spread throughout the known world, much like today.
When an athlete is preparing for a race on a highly competitive level, he displays certain disciplines and attitudes before and during the race. First, he devotes all his efforts, energy, and time to get his body ready to compete. He gets up early, trains hard and often, and takes in a special diet of foods that will benefit his body. Anything that could hinder his chances of winning, he cuts out of his life. He prepares to make himself physically strong. Second, he gets himself mentally ready to compete. The body may be right, but if the mind is not equally trained, he has no chance of winning. Most professional athletes will agree that the games are lost and won in the minds of those competing. Both during practice and in the race, the mind has to be ready for the task. Already during training, the athlete has an attitude of winning. He is ready and prepared to do whatever it takes to get himself in shape. He is of a single focus and all of his being, all aspects of his life are dedicated to the cause of winning. The competitor believes that he can win. He knows that he has trained hard and effectively and is ready for the challenge. During the race, he knows that he can only win if he gives it his all. He has confidence in his training and knows that he is physically ready, which enables him to stay focused on the goal of winning the race. His heart is not concerned about anything outside of the race and he gives the race every ounce of strength he has available. He holds nothing back and thus becomes a contender for the prize.
Paul asks us to have the same kind of devotion and dedication in our Christian walk as the ancient runners had. Only the cost of losing the race of life is much more costly and the rewards much more gratifying. We need to prepare ourselves physically and mentally by developing good habits in what we  allow to enter our bodies and minds. Like an athlete, we must train hard and often and devote all of our daily routine to the effort at hand: to run the race of the follower of Christ in a fallen world. If we are not disciplined in our efforts and do not make use of all the training facilities that are available to us, we will not win the race and that will have eternal consequences both for us and those around us. If the athlete is willing to be single minded for an earthly crown of fame and glory, how much more should we be willing to sacrifice and stay the course for a heavenly crown of glory. And there is one secret ingredient that gives us the ultimate edge in the race. Christ has already run the race for us and He has won! If we get in the game and are willing to follow Christ we are guaranteed to win the race and come out as victors in the end. In athletics the outcome of the race can only be determined ahead of time by illegitimate means, but in our Christian walk, we can be assured that if we stay devoted we will succeed and earn the crown of everlasting life at the finish line.

Application
Like the ancient runner, I want to be wholly devoted to Christ. I want to cut out anything that hinders my chances at winning the race from my life. Therefore today I will ask those closest to me what they see in me that needs to be dealt with and ask God to change me in those areas.