Paul liked to use illustrations in his messages. He spoke of a soldier and now he speaks of an athlete. He uses this kind of illustration often. He speaks of runners and boxers especially. Chance are good that he would have been familiar with the Roman games, which were like the Olympics, after the time he spent in Rome.
In sports there is one basic principle – you have to play by the rules. If you don’t, you can’t win. We’ve all seen stories of people who cut corners in races or took drugs to enhance their performances or found other ways to cheat. If they ‘win’ and get caught they are disqualified. I remember Lance Armstrong who won, I think, seven Tour de France races, but when it was discovered that he had been a liar and a cheat he lost his rewards.
You know, the Christian life can be like that. There are sadly some folks who give all the signs that the are in the Christian race. They go through life going to church are doing the right things, but the problem is that they have never done what really counts – they’ve never actually played by the rules. They’ve never confessed their sins and repented and turned to Jesus.
So, at the end of the day there is no prize to be won. They may have deceived the church and their family and friends but they cannot deceive Christ and they don’t receive their reward.
What a tragedy that so many seem to be in the race and yet are disqualified for heaven.
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