“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. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7
People go crazy over sports and competition. It truly is thrilling to watch games especially when you are a fan of a particular team or institution.
My college team had their big rivalry football game this past weekend. We were favored to win and were winning the whole game until the fourth quarter. Their team came on strong while ours lost their steam and concentration in the final minutes. We lost at the end by 4 points. We beat them in all statistics except the score and big plays. While disappointed we lost I couldn’t help see many spiritual allegories from the game.
The rules are determined by God. He created the game called “life”. He set down some ground rules and He is the only “judge” we need to worry about. People scream about the rules and their supposed unfairness, but the rules are there for a reason.
The walk of faith is described in the Bible as a race and competition. Our spirit is always in competition with our flesh… the battle of two natures each of us lives with. For our battle in this life, “…we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
We are to run the race keeping our eyes on the prize. That prize is eternal life living with our Lord Jesus for all eternity. All other trophies or prizes in this life are meaningless in comparison.
In our humanity, we tend to see this as a long game though we are actually small-time, short-time players in living the new covenant with God that goes back for millenniums. Each one of us has a unique role and assignment from Jesus our coach and intercessor who always feeds us the plays and trains us up to be winners. “We are more than conquerors” when we line up with Jesus through faith. We may see battles being lost here and there, but we know that we will ultimately win if we keep the faith. Many dark minds would say “the game is rigged” since the creator has already declared who wins and has the power and authority to make that happen, but that’s fine by me. I like playing for the best coach.
For me, the battle of the big football game was between two coaches. The new underdog coach has now beaten my team two years in a row now.
In this world, dominion has been given to the prince of darkness. In a majority of people’s minds, his plan and ways are favored. It is more common to root for the home team than the minority underdogs. It is easier to believe in the majority position than the minority, yet time and again in this life battle, we see the minority prevail. Look at the history of Israel which team God chose thousands of years ago to be his. They have been ridiculed and enslaved throughout history and yet God has been their coach and savior time and time again. They have been written off and outnumbered in “fans” so many times, yet God’s plan for them always wins over the long run.
Today we find ourselves closer to the end of the game than ever. We are in the fourth quarter of the planned game of life. While it’s interesting and helpful to know the history of this game, it is more important to fit in with the present and future “plays” God has planned for us.
We need to listen to our coach more now than ever. We don’t often understand His master plan for this game, but we must learn to trust him and do our part in his glorious plan and assurance of victory. If we focus on our failures and previous flubs, we will always be doubting ourselves and giving in to a loser’s mentality. We may even give up and submit to losing. If we keep faith and hope in the plan God has for us, we will ultimately win the game and celebrate for eternity. Don’t give up and be smug about victory. We must keep trusting the coach and running the “plays” he gives us. After all, he was the greatest “player” of all time on this earth and showed us how to live victoriously. He even conquered death!
Here is to continued trust and obedience to his plan for us until the end of our playing time. His is the victory and the glory, forever and ever.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39