The Secrets of Your Identity IllustrationsSample

Analogy #2: Live Like a Disciplined Athlete

Not only are we soldiers, fighting God’s battles, but we are also athletes.

The comparison of the believer to an athlete is found all throughout Paul’s writings. I think it speaks to us very clearly regarding discipline. Paul wrote about this analogy numerous times because, at that time, the Greek and Roman cultures were known for their competitive games. The Greeks Paul was writing to would have been familiar with the footraces run in the Isthmian Games at Corinth every two years.

Athletes are known for three things, and I want to take a few moments to look at them more closely.

Aspect #1: Competing

I believe Paul used the analogy of an athlete for one reason: competition. I know that being competitive has a negative connotation to many Christians, but truly it doesn’t always have to be a self-centered exercise. Every successful athlete must have a competitive edge or won’t make the team. Likewise, something inside you must scream, “I’m not going to let the devil win.” Anyone who joins a team should have that “we’re going to win” spirit.

Christ chose for you to win. Don’t allow religion to convince you that being competitive is a sin. It’s not—being ambitious is sinful, but heaven wants you to have an athletic mindset and understand the culture of an athlete. Why? Because when you join a team, you no longer represent yourself but the team that chose you.

Aspect #2: Representing

I truly think that when Christians fail to fight back, they misrepresent the kingdom. You’ve been selected to be part of the greatest team on earth. But failure to maintain your freedom makes your team look bad. When you stand your ground like a true athlete, you represent your team well.

Aspect #3: Winning

Winning must be the goal of all athletes. But victory can be achieved only through two things: discipline and rules. Look at the following scripture:

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I might be disqualified." —1 Corinthians 9:24–27, NLT (Emphasis Added)

As you can see, discipline is the greatest friend of the athlete. Without it, winning will not be possible. Discipline includes the ritual of doing something over and over again until it’s perfected.

Maintaining your freedom involves the discipline of your mind. Discipline it repeatedly!

The second way athletes win the prize is by following the rules. Look at this verse:

"Athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules." —2 Timothy 2:5, NLT

You can’t violate God’s rules of freedom and expect to remain free. If you play with sin, you will open the door for bad things to return. You can’t expect to stay free if you break the rules of keeping the door closed. It’s foolish for athletes to expect to win a prize if they have been violating the rules of the competition.