Finish Strong

Lets Finish Strong!

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NKJV

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.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Perhaps the most dramatic scene in sports is the marathoner’s last lap at the end of a grueling 26-mile race. As the tired exhausted figure presses to the finish line, the crowd in the Olympic stadium cheers him on . Straining every muscle, the runner pushes through the tape and , before the watching world, is awarded the prize. Drawing from this athletic imagery, the apostle Paul compared the Christian life to a grueling marathon, an event well-known to the first century Christians. Writing to Corinthians, believers who lived only ten miles from the famous Isthmian games , he challenged them not merely to enter the race of faith, but to go “all out” and run so as to win.

God wants winners! In our present sports-crazed society, perhaps no biblical metaphor better illustrates the reality of living for Christ.

So what are the keys to victory.

Warren Buffett said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” Have you ever noticed in life that a good start isn’t always enough? Now there is nothing wrong with a good start mind you, but it is often not enough to get us to the finish line, or to the winners circle.??And if you don’t believe me, ask the Atlanta Braves who won the first 2 games of the 1996 years world series against the Yankees in New York and then lost the series 4 games later.?Or you can ask the 1969 Baltimore Orioles, who dominated the majors that year winning 109 games but lost the World Series to the New York Mets in just 4 games. Or ask the Indianapolis Colts who went up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter of the Super Bowl only to lose the game 31-17. It’s not just the teams, it’s also the athletes:

Warren Buffett said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” Have you ever noticed in life that a good start isn’t always enough? Now there is nothing wrong with a good start mind you, but it is often not enough to get us to the finish line, or to the winners circle.??And if you don’t believe me, ask the Atlanta Braves who won the first 2 games of the 1996 years world series against the Yankees in New York and then lost the series 4 games later.?Or you can ask the 1969 Baltimore Orioles, who dominated the majors that year winning 109 games but lost the World Series to the New York Mets in just 4 games. Or ask the Indianapolis Colts who went up 10-0 at the end of the first quarter of the Super Bowl only to lose the game 31-17. It’s not just the teams, it’s also the athletes:

Then you have Tiger Woods, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Roger Clemens, Jose Conseco.

Good starts aren’t limited to professional sports or even athlete’s. It also includes politicians: President Bill Clinton, Senators John Edwards and Bill Jefferson, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Governor Edwin Edwards, Oliver Thomas, Dorthy May Taylor, all of who had good starts but failed to finish strong. You have businessmen like Ken Lay of Enron, Bernie Madoff, and Bernard Ebbers and Scott Sullivan of World Com. It also includes many pastors and ministers including: Jamaican born, New York based evangelist Rev. Paul Lewis, Marvin Gorman, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, and many of the arch bishops and priests who have been accused of molestation or conspiring to cover it up. There is nothing wrong with a good start mind you, but it is often not enough to get us to the finish line.

The bible is full of stories of men & women who had great starts for God - but who did not finish strong. King David, King Solomon, King Asa, Samson, Judas and many others. Dr. J. Robert Clinton, professor at Fuller Seminary, did a study of leadership in the Bible and determined that only 30% of them finished well.

It’s easy to look down on people like that we all have experienced the reality of good starts but failing to finish strong in our own everyday lives.? It may be a new diet or exercise program or on a project around the house, a class in school, a job in the church or in paying off some bills. We get out of that starting gate like hungry grey hounds chasing a rabbit but as time passes and the diet ends, the exercise stops, we fail the class, the job doesn’t get done and the bills are still where we left them. And we find out that there is nothing wrong with a good start -- it just isn’t enough.

Trophies are given only to those who cross the finish line.

Finish strong!

Perhaps there was no one more focused on finishing the race of life and faith well than the Apostle Paul. In our Scripture today, Paul uses the analogy of a race for the journey of faith. The Church in Corinth was familiar with races. Corinth hosted one of the most famous of the Greek athletic events, 2nd only to the Olympic games.?Paul uses the picture of a race to point to another race - for we as Christians are running a race where we are called not just to start strong but finish well. There are several things we learn about the journey of faith.

First, we run with a purpose, not aimlessly. Very few people that run in the Boston Marathon have a realistic chance to compete and beat some of the best African runners in the world who come to race but every one of the participants has a goal. For some, it is to win their age bracket. For others, it is to be in the first 100. For still others, it is to be in the top 500 and get a poster. But for every person, regardless of age, stature, training or physical shape, the goal is the same: to finish the race and finish it well.

Finishing well can be a matter of perspective and personal taste. The same is true for those of us who run the race of faith for Jesus. It’s not enough just to start the race or even have a good start, it is to finish the race and finish it well.

Second, it requires a proper focus and that’s to run for the prize. Now here’s the thing about the Boston Marathon. Only one man and one woman will win but for the first 500, they receive a medallion and a poster and that’s the prize. People run in the race of life for fame or prizes or accolades, but we run for the prize of eternal life. And that makes all the difference on how you run the race.

Rick Warren writes, “When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance. Suddenly many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention. The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears. When you live in the light of eternity, your values change. You use your time and money more wisely. You place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun. Your priorities are reordered. Keeping up with trends, fashions, and popular values just doesn’t matter as much anymore.”

Third, it involves discipline and strict training. Preparation nobody goes out and just starts to run marathons. A lot of preparation is necessary for the runner to be successful. You must study the course and know your opponent in order to win. Running trains you to endure! Strengthens the heart. Make the blood flow more easily and reduces stress!

Determination (v. 24) One can’t win a marathon with halfhearted effort. The runner must have a will to win, a strong resolve. It isn’t enough to be in the Christian race. Rather once entered, we must take our spiritual life seriously, pushing to the limit, deeply committed. This is not speaking of salvation or earning entrance into the race; it is calling us to make whatever sacrifice necessary to win the victor’s crown at the end. The most coveted prize of the Roman Empire was the stephanos, the laurel like wreath place on the head of the champion. Made of leafy greenery, the victor’s crown brought instant fame, tax-exemption, and free education. Calling for our total commitment, the apostle Paul writes, “They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” If a marathoner would be so dedicated to win I withering pine wreath and short-lived fame, how much more ought we be determined to gain the eternal, imperishable crown.

Fourth, it’s not about winning the race, it’s about how you run the race. Brian Davis rolled in a clutch 18-footer for birdie on his final regulation hole to catch Jim Furyk and force a playoff in the Verizon Heritage Golf Tournament in Hilton Head, SC. On the first playoff hole Davis’ hit a wayward 7-iron that hit the left edge of the green, rattled off the rocks bounding the ocean and settled among some grass, twigs and reeds. When he swung, he couldn’t deny what he saw in the corner of his eye. He ticked a loose reed during his backswing, a violation of the rules of golf, and called a two-stroke penalty on himself that gave Jim Furyk the victory. Davis immediately asked for PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White to make a ruling. White consulted with officials who checked TV replays and confirmed Davis’ worst fear: He had indeed violated the rules, hitting a reed on his backswing.

Discipline (v. 25) In the ancient games, victory depended on the athlete’s rigorous training. Every runner entered strict training under the watchful eye of an official. Marathon runners were known to work out for years – lifting weights, running laps, regulating sleep, restricting their diet, Self-control means we must exercise mastery over our lives, giving up some pleasures, pursuing other disciplines, all for the sake of winning. We must be committed to the basic spiritual disciplines of the Christian life – Bible study, prayer, and mediation. (see 7. Don't waste time arguing over foolish ideas and silly myths and legends. Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually and practice being a better Christian, because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too.)

It was indiscernable to the eye but clearly seen in the slow mo replay. Jim Furyk earned $1,026,000 million. Davis earned $615,000, losing $411,000 and his chance to win his first tournament. PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White said, What Davis lost on the course will be regained in his reputation for his honorable act. “That will come back to him…tenfold.” It’s not that you win the race or golf tournament which matters, it’s how you run the race and play the game. Because for us as followers of Jesus Christ, it’s not about a trophy or even financial winnings, it’s about eternity.

Direction (v.26) The marathon course was clearly marked, winding through the landscape, and the runner needed to stay on course, his eye on the goal. Paul said that he wasn’t running aimlessly or uncertainly, with our goal. The divinely designed track of God’s will is clearly marked by His Word, It is a narrow path that includes every aspect of our lives, Winning the prize requires seeking direction from Scripture and following the course it requires.

Denial (v. 27) Athletes had to give up certain comforts and to “punish” their bodies, giving up a life of ease and bodily impulses. The same self-denial is necessary for the Christian. After making that point in verse 27, Paul shifted the illustration form running to boxing, saying that we must beat our bodies, with a series of knockout punches to fleshly desires, We must resist temptation, mortify or kill sensual lusts that would defeat us, and remain pure. Even Paul feared that having preached to other, he would be disqualified, referring not to the loss of salvation but to the loss of reward.

After the race, every runner was brought to stand before the raised, wooden platform in the middle of the track that supported a throne-like seat for the judge. Each athlete would be crowned, passed over, or disqualified. So it will be for us as believer sin Christ ( II Cor. 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Every step of the Christian life has eternal importance. Right now counts forever! Let us run with growing anticipation of that moment when we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ himself! 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Conclusion: After the race, every runner was brought to stand before the raised, wooden platform in the middle of the track that supported a throne-like seat for the judge. Each athlete would be crowned, passed over, or disqualified. So it will be for us as believer sin Christ ( ) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Every step of the Christian life has eternal importance.

Right now counts forever!

Let us run with growing anticipation of that moment when we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ himself! But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

An infamous runner. A story was told about a world famous sprinter. This young man had won every local contest, he had won every national contest and even won the international contest. One day while traveling in a foreign country he came upon an old man. The old man approached him saying “aren’t you that world famous runner that everybody has been talking about?” The young man said “yes, I see that you have heard about me.” The old man said “ you know young man that there is a track just up the street from here and I was wondering If I could get a race with you?” The young man looked at the old man with disgust and said “ you mean to tell me that you want to run with me? Time having plowed furloughs in your brow, and your body is being twisted by old age? How is that an old man like you would think that he could run against me?” The old man looked at the young man and said “ well, son I know all about you, and if your not afraid c’mon and run with me” After much argument and disgust the young man finally gave in and agreed to a race. The young man went up to the track and went in to change and the old man went in and changed also. They went up to the starting line and as some time keeper fired the starting pistol they were off. The young man strides along with all of the grace and poise that an athlete of his caliper could employ, but the old man strides all also. As he approached the first turn he decided that he was going to put on a little more speed. But the old man put on a little more speed also. As he enter the straight way he again decided that he was going put on even more speed, but the old man put on more as well. As they went around the second turn and approach the finish line young as it was his custom put on all that he had. But as he approach the finish line the old man pulled out in front and beat him across the finish line. The young man was astonished, the young man was amazed. The young man looked at the old man with disbelief and said “do you mind telling me who you are and what your name is?” The old man said “you know how I am; but you just don’t recognize me.” You see I too am a world famous runner. And like you I have also never lost a race. I out ran Abraham Isaac and Jacob. I out ran Moses and all of the other prophets. Great men have been run down by me. Wise men have been out run by me. And then on day on Calvary I even caught up with Jesus! You see my name is Death! You see children the reason why I run so hard is that I have another runner by my side… Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Ecclesiastes 9:11 Again I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race, nor the strongest man the battle, and that wise men are often poor, and skillful men are not necessarily famous; but it is all by chance, by happening to be at the right place at the right time.