RUNNING THE RACE – CHRISTIAN OLYMPIC
The 2012 London (Summer) Olympic ended on Sunday, August 12, 2012. About 204 countries participated in the Summer Fiesta in 302 events in 26 Sports. As I watched the various events on television, Sports men and women vigorously contested for honors and laurels as well as put their names in the annals of history. In an atmosphere of friendship and yet keen competition, sports man and women from different countries of the world vied for crowns – medals (gold, silver and bronze) in various fields. Some events were contested individually while others involved teams (groups). Some of the participants had their first time (debut) appearance in this world multi-sports gathering while others returned to sweat out their goals, desires and expectation – confirm their leadership in the sports of their love. Among them were those who competed for the highest honor of gold but won silver or bronze and those who completely missed the mark or failed short on the finish line and had another opportunity to rewrite history after four years. It is a second chance that they dare not miss.
The joy of those who won medals were great, especially those who won gold medals and had their Nation’s National Anthem played during the Award Ceremony. Even those who watched from the television felt and joined in their excitement and jubilation. In the Spirit of friendship, all the participants and even spectators had fun and run for their money. That is what makes the Olympic Games unique; yet is it competition for corruptible crowns. These valuables are perishable laurels and honors and earthly bound. However, it is only a pointer to what the real thing – heavenly crown. I could be poised to ask: if earthly crowns could carry with them such jubilation and honor, what would the eternal crown be like?
Each Olympic Games reminds me of our Christian race – call it Christian Olympic or Marathon. In event such as this, we have two groups of people – The Participants and the Spectators (The crowd):
a) SPECTATORS: includes family members, friends and fellow citizens; non-citizens (admirers), the Media, peers etc, who live within and around us as well as viewers on television channels. They surround, compass about and support as well as distract and criticize the participants. They are the crowd watching the events. Most of them paid money (by means of tickets and sponsors) to have access to view the games. They also monitor, suppress and survey the participants. They came to the fiesta to entertain themselves and have fun; see how good the participants were, cheer and gossip; make new friends and reunite with the old.
b) PARTICIPANTS: Make up of old and fresh athletes who compete for honors and crowns. They represent their countries; carry their nation’s symbols and wear their colors as well as flag their honor. They come with determination and resolve to win medal(s) and imbibe the spirit of friendship and have fun. It is expected and required that they be at their best behavior and high mode to compete and win. Winning is their goal and shall make them and nations proud.
Each Olympic comes every four years and entails: Preparations, participations (Race) and Rewards:
i) PREPARATIONS: Literally, means to get ready or equip or furnish. In this context, it means to get oneself ready in strict training rules and self control. It is the foundation for winning. It could be for a race, war or feast, etc. It involves carrying the cross before the crown. It’s the part of the Olympic many do not see except where and when they compete for qualification and air on TV’s or print media. Preparations involve:
*Becoming a citizen: Since representation is by nations, one has to be a citizen of the country he/she intend to represent. If you are not naturally born in that country, you would have to be granted naturalization to enable you representing her.
*Set your goals – achievable objectives – do not run aimlessly (1 Cor. 9:26).
*Training by rules – Are you coachable? (2 Tim. 2:5) – dedication and skill
*Loose some weight (Heb. 12:1-2)
* Be disciplined (2 Tim. 2: 4) Run with endurance, endure hardship
* Be determined/resolved; never quit/perseverance (Jas 1:4; Rom.5:3- 5).
ii) PARTICIPATION (RACE): The Psalmist charges that a race is for strong men or a bridegroom coming out of its chamber (Psalm 19:4b-5).He is ready to go. Apostle Paul compared Christian race with the Olympic. He uses metaphors to describe how Christians should live their lives: as soldiers (2 Tim. 2:3-4), Athletes (2 Tim. 2:5), Farmers (2 Tim. 2:6), Stewards (1 Cor. 4:1-2), Ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), Living Stone (1 Peter 2:5), and Sojourners (1 Peter 2:11), etc. He went ahead to lay the charge and implications: Many runners enter and run a race but only one wins the prize. Run in such a way to win it. Athletes work hard to win earthly perishable crowns but Christian race is for eternal crown, that last forever. As Olympian I run with a goal; I do not box by beating the air but make direct my punches to my target, discipline my body and bring it to subjection, less I lose out after I preach to others (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Participation or the Race is the test and requires some qualifications or conditions:
*Stay focus and alert (Mark 13:33; Hebrews 11:6); avoiding distractions of every kind.
*Maintain your speed (Hebrew 12:1-2), by laying aside every weight and sin (1 Peter 5:7)
*Maintain your form, self worth, confidence (Psalm 139:13-14; 1John 3:1)
*Rest (Relax) – Rest relaxes the internal system.
* Press for the Prize / crown (Phil 3:4; 2 John 1:8; 2 Tim. 2:6)
*Finish your race /run to the finish line (2 Tim. 4:7: Matt 25:23)
* Looking unto Jesus – no other Savior or Lord. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). He alone will enable you to run the race victoriously (1 John 5:11, 2Tim 2:1-2; Eccl 9:11). Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15)
iii) FULL REWARD: Jesus Christ speaking through His revelations to Apostle John says, “And behold, I am coming quickly and my reward is with me, to give every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12). “……God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). “ ………Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day and not to me only but also to all who have love His appearance” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). “ ……honor the Lord and serve your earthly master with the whole of your heart………work diligently as though you are serving the Lord himself….the Lord Jesus Christ is the one you are really serving and you know He will reward you (Col. 3:22-24). “I am not trying to get something from you but I want you to receive the blessings that comes from giving” (Phil 3:17). Also “Be sure you do not lose what we have worked for, but that we may receive full reward” (2 John 8). Also read: Psalm 58:11, Isaiah 40:10, and Hebrews 11: 25-26, Luke 6:35.
An author describes Christian race as not a spectator sport but a game that demands strict adherence to the rules, diligence and rigorous engagement. It involves sacrifices – pains and bruises that feeling of victory drives away. Even though it starts with being born again and engaged in routine Church going, bible studies, prayers, fellowship and sacrificial yet willing giving. Christian race portrays a greater picture than salvation process. It’s entails faith to risk your life for the Lord; offers challenges that make great demands on your life and offer great rewards.
A Christian is likened to an athlete who strives to please the Lord in his aspirant for the crown and disciplines to attain excellence. He must “lay aside every weight” that hinders performance. It could mean doing away with things that do not support or negates good performance and also eliminates comforts and luxuries that could distract and prevent full concentration on the goal. Note that if Satan can’t cause you to fall back, he will at least attempt to keep you from going forward. We must “keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ,” the Author and Finisher of our faith. Our eyes must be fastened on Him alone throughout the duration of Christian race because He leads and makes our faith complete. Jesus is the supreme example of steadfast faith, who for the joy (crown, trophy, honor and up-liftment) that was set before Him endured the cross (daily persecutions, distractions, insults, pressures and strives). He persevered and won the race; received the crown and now seats at the right hand of the Father as the Judge and our Attorney.
The scriptures explicitly describe the Christian race as tough (not easy). It’s far from the “ice cream and butter” presentation that we hear from some new found Church’s pulpits. The race is represented as running, wrestling, warring, striving and agonizing. It is not surprising that Our Lord Jesus Christ calls that gate, straight and the path, narrow; the opposite is wide and freeway. Apostle Paul describes Christians as soldiers in fierce warfare (life) against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places ( ). Running the race to the finish line (end of his earthly journey), he could boldly declare, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there’s laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day and not me only but unto all of them also that love His appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Apostle Paul compared our life on earth with that of a race. He likens life to a race that has three characteristics:
i). Challenging course (ups and down, set backs and come backs);
ii) has a judge – Jesus is the Judge;
iii) Has a finish line (spent in heaven or in hell).
In our world view, winning the race is based on intelligence (smartness) and acquisition of wealth. In our capitalistic society, when you are rich you are considered successful. To the proponent of prosperity, the more money you give to the Church or men/women of God, the more assurance of your making the race. They believe in “money is the answer for everything” (Eccl. 10:19b). However they should be reminded to read that “the gift of the unrighteous is abomination to the Lord (Proverb 15:8). You cannot serve God and money. In God’s way, the race is not to the swift (speed) or the battle to the strong ( by strength) nor the food comes to the knowledgeable (wise) or wealth to the brilliant (smart) or favor to the learned (educated) but time and chance happen to them all (Eccl. 9:11). Winning the race is based upon our effort to please (honor) the Lord (Col. 3:23). We win the race when we do our best to please the Lord “ Love the Lord with the whole of your heart, your soul, mind and strength…….love others as much as you love yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).