The Olympics in Brazil are upon us! Will Mo Farah successfully defend his Olympic 5,000 metres title? All that training, self discipline over many months, even years, to be ready for the important day. We all admire Mo’s dedication and his obvious elation when he wins, but what about those who don’t do well on the day? The glory attached to winning is transient. One is a media hero for a few days, and a few years later forgotten.
The Bible talks about a race, keeping fit, and the prize set before the runner. This spiritual ‘Olympics’, however, is dealing with the race in which the participants are not competing against each other, but helping each other to win. The Apostle Paul writes “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, 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) Notice that his training is in conquering himself, his earthly desires and being filled with what the Bible calls “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22).
What about the prize? Imagine you have won the 100 metres race, all the glory and praise! Move on 25 years and hardly anyone remembers your ‘glory’ You look back in thought to those halcyon days. If only they could be repeated! Think of the Christian, growing old, yet looking to the future with joyful anticipation! Paul wrote “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me at that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). And although it is a spiritual race, the consequences of faithful running is the prize of an immortal body, on this planet, energised by the Spirit of God and giving glory to God. The prophet Isaiah wrote “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew (change) their strength: they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)
Let us choose God’s Olympics!
- Join us at our hall in Foundry Road on Sunday 14th Aug 2016 at 18:00 to hear a special talk entitled: ‘Humanism and the Bible’. All are welcome to attend! See more of our upcoming events here.
