Heaven: The Race

The Apostle Paul loved athletic metaphors and frequently used them in describing the Christian life. The Isthmian Games that took place near Corinth were second only to the Olympic Games, so references to footraces, wrestling, and boxing would be familiar to his audience. For Paul, our goal as believers in Jesus Christ should be to “win the race” of the Christian life. God did not call us, Paul would say, to sit on the sidelines but to get into the game and exercise the self-control required to receive the “well done” of our Heavenly Father when our earthly race is over.

If our goal as believers is to win the prize Paul refers to in these verses, three things are required:

• Discipline
• A sense of direction
• Determination

Discipline in our Christian walk must include spending time with God on a daily basis, studying His Word and applying it to our lives. It also includes being faithful in corporate worship and Bible Study. As citizens of Heaven we know where we will spend eternity. Recognizing this gives us the sense of direction we need to grow in Christlikeness. We are not called to “sit and soak,” but to strain forward as we keep our eyes on Jesus.

The race may seem long and arduous at times, but we receive encouragement as we consider what Hebrews 12:1 assures us. As we lay aside everything that might hinder us from running well, we can be confident that a “crowd of witnesses” who have gone before us will cheer us on to victory. Listen carefully, and you may hear them cheering, “Get in the race. Run well. Set your eyes on Jesus. Remember the prize that awaits you when you cross the finish line.” Jesus is observing us to see how well we run. The prize that awaits us exceeds anything this world has to offer. So run well, run with endurance, and run to win! Do it now.

Reflection questions:

• The Christian life is more like a marathon than a sprint. How so?
• Are there obstacles you need to overcome that would slow you down or trip you up in your Christian race?