Competing For The Crown

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

2 Timothy 2:5 “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

Introduction

Rules, rules, rules. Everywhere you turn there are rules we have to live by if we plan on living peaceful lives.

There are even rules for baking a chocolate cake. These rules are called ingredients.

We all have a choice on whether we want to follow these rules or not. There are consequences for the choices we make.

Rules For Sports and Academics

In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses an example of running a race to bring an understanding about reaching the end of our physical life and crossing over into our eternal life.

There are two crowns at the finish line. One that perishes and one that doesn’t.

Paul mentions that he disciplines his body and makes it behave to what he wants it to do.

When an athlete desires to lift more weights, score more points, or run for more yard they have to train, train and train.

When a cheerleader, which by the way is considered an athlete, desires to to do backward flips the length of a football field or basketball court, he or she has to train there body on a regular basis.

When someone who desires to have a 4.0 grad average, it takes hours of studying, taking notes, and studying some more.

The Perishable Crown / The Imperishable Crown

The perishable crown is the one we receive if we live our lives apart from God, a life of sin.

This crown is worn by those who have decided to go against the the lifestyle God has chosen for us to live.

Paul lays it out for us in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”

The imperishable crown is the one we receive when we live our lives as God’s children - the ones who told their bodies no to things that brings a perishable crown.

Fortunately there is a prize that can’t be equaled when we reach the end of our race - eternal life.

Training for The Crown

Just like we have to study our school material to get a high GPA, we should study God’s word.

Not only study, but apply and obey His word.

Just like an athlete trains their body to withstand long distance running, lift heavier weights, score more points, run more yards and turn more flips, we have to train our bodies to resist the things the devil wants us to do and conform to what God wants us to do.

An athlete trains in the off season as well as during the season. If they don’t they lose their stamina, strength, timing and so forth.

Conclusion

In order to receive the crown, we have to live by the rules.

There may come a time

when we drop the ball when we really needed to catch it to move on to the next level.

when we strike out when we needed to get a hit for the winning score to feel better about what we’ve done.

when we miss a game winning shot when we needed to make that shot to help someone.

or when we mis-time our leap on that last back flip.

But don’t worry because God has allowed His Son Jesus to die and give us grace when we fall short.

The game isn’t over if you lose today because the Lord renews his mercies every morning.

Everyday is a new day when you are going by the rules we have to win that imperishable crown.