‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly, I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
[1 Corinthians 9:24-27]
An athlete is drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion. His trembling muscles threaten to give way. Every fiber of his flesh quivers, silently screaming, “stop! give in!” Yet, he will not. His eyes are unwavering. His otherworldly gaze is fixated on what lies ahead. It is sheer willpower that demands his physical body to obey—willpower generated by the promise of a prize received upon achievement of a goal.
When I read Paul’s words, this is the vision created. To me, the words “strict training” hold incredible weight, as there was a time in my life when those words were my life. The imagery he uses to describe how our spiritual life is to be lived out is clear. Our journey with the Lord is to be one of unwavering focus (2 Corinthians 4:18). It is to be one that consumes every particle of our lives (Philippians 3:13b-14). It is to be one where our physical bodies are in obedience to the demands of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:12-13).
We are to live lives of intention, not aimlessly. We are to precisely grasp ahold of every moment, not clumsily beat the air.
And yet, what does my spiritual life often look like? A brief excerpt from my journal, penned days ago, impeccably details what I often feel/live:
“….Thank You for Your patience as I run off Your path to chase the butterflies and linger in places I should not be lingering.”
I so often chase butterflies off the path in order to lounge on thistles and anthills, while making mud pies out of filth.
Juxtapose the two images together and the resulting picture is absurd.
Discipline is painful. Keeping our eyes solely on Jesus is excruciating to our flesh. Running the race of the Christian life can will result in cramps, aches, bruises, melt-downs, exhaustion, stumbles, falls, and injuries. Compared to that, the butterflies are tantalizing and making mud pies is so much fun. But, in its midst, the creeping vines encircle, choking breath from lungs until death arrives.
The Lord is a gracious God, full of compassion and patience. Oh, praise Him for this! Time after time, He rescues us and sets our feet back on the path of His commands (Psalm 119:32). Dear friends-fellow runners- let us remember this:
“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 author and perfecter of our 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 evil men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
[Hebrews 12:1-3]
