The race

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. – 1 Corinthians 9.24-27

Paul must have loved athletics. He would have been familiar with the Roman Games and probably known about the ancient Olympics. Athletic events were common place in his day. All kinds of athletics were popular. Running, jumping, boxing, and all kinds of events we would be familiar with took place at feasts and festivals of the time.

Paul uses what people knew to illustrate truth. He talks about running a race.  People run a race for a purpose – to win. Running is one thing, but a race is another. This isn’t the only place where he talks about a race. His does it as well in Hebrews (I know, nobody knows who wrote Hebrews, but…) where he speak about running a race with patience.

But here is talks about a race to win a prize. In His day it was not medals or ribbons but a wreath made of branches that was given to the winner. Runners ran a race to win the crown – but the problem is that that crown would not last forever.

But Paul also speaks of a crown that we seek in our spiritual race through life. Our goal is a crown that will last forever.

We can get so caught up in the world’s rat race sometimes that we neglect the race that is important.

We need the keep the proper crown in mind as we go through life day by day – only that crown will be eternal glory.