RUNNNG TOWARDS VICTORY

Introduction

-The Bible uses many different metaphors and analogies to help us picture our journey with Christ. One that is often used is the picture of a race. As such, today I want to begin a three-part series on running that Christian race, hopefully encouraging us to run it in a way that honors Christ and relies on the Holy Spirit.

-Today, I want to talk about Running towards Victory—we want to run to win.

-You might be familiar with the story of Great Britain's Derek Redmond who had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400-meter race, and his dream was in sight as he ran in the semifinals at Barcelona Olympics of 1992. He was running the race of his life and was nearing the finish line when all of a sudden he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. He fell face first onto the track with a torn right hamstring. As the doctors were approaching, Redmond fought to his feet and began hopping to the finish line. When he reached the stretch, a large man in a T-shirt came out of the stands, brushed aside a security guard and ran to Redmond, embracing him. It was Jim Redmond, Derek's father. "You don't have to do this," he told his weeping son. "Yes, I do," said Derek. "Well, then," said Jim, "we're going to finish this together." And they did. Fighting off security men, the son's head sometimes buried in his father's shoulder, they stayed in Derek's lane all the way to the end, as the crowd rose and clapped and wept. Derek didn't walk away with the gold medal, but he was a winner nonetheless.

-In running the Christian race, we may never win earthly medals or accolades or fame, but we can run in such a way as to gain the victory.

-The apostle Paul wrote about this to the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church would have been very familiar with the picture of a race. The city of Corinth itself hosted the Isthmian games which were only second in fame and glory to that of the Olympics.

-Using this metaphor, Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to run their Christian race as if to gain victory—and this too ought to encourage us to run like we want to win.

-So, my prayer is that we leave here today not just taking part in the Christian race, but to strive to live in victory which is made sure for us when our eyes are focused on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ESV

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

-Let’s look at four characteristics of running towards victory:

I) Run with dedication

-Paul reminds the readers that, although there are many people who run in a race, only one person wins and gets the prize. He then encourages us to run in order to win the prize.

-By saying that there is only one winner, Paul in no way is saying that Christians are in competition with one another and only one Christian will find victory. But he uses this to tell us that we don’t enter into the Christian life merely to participate, but (to use a cliché) we are in it to win it.

-When we come to Christ in faith, we don’t merely do so in order to get out of hell, we do so with the mindset that I want to live a life dedicated to do what I have to do to be victorious—I am dedicated to win the prize.

-What is the prize? I believe Paul gives us an idea in the book of Philippians 3:

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Phil. 3:7-8 ESV)

…

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:14 ESV)

-By no means is Paul saying that we are running in order to win our salvation or to win heaven. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again the third day to win the salvation for those who would believe in Him by faith and repentance.

-What Paul IS saying is that I dedicate my life in order to know Christ more, love Christ more, serve Christ more.

~This translates into me living the Christian life not merely to exist in it, not merely to hold on as best as possible in it, but to be a winner…to live my life the fullest I can by the power of the Holy Spirit to be victorious.

-There are so many Christians who are merely biding their time here on earth. Their Christian life is marked by nothing more than holding on as best as possible until Christ returns, or they die. A life that they try to live as comfortably and easy as they can until they make it to heaven. But no Christian is called to such a life.

-Paul says run the race like you are going to be the winner—run the race like you are going to get the prize. You may think it sounds somehow unholy, or that it seems like such a wrong motivation, but we are to run the race of the Christian life so we can get the best reward possible.

~Christ gave us salvation and eternal life, but what our reward for eternity looks like is completely dependent on how we run this race—how we live out our Christian life.

-Paul said in Colossians 3—

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

(Col. 3:23-24 ESV)

-I guess a modern analogy would be to play the game in order to win the game, not merely to participate.

~There’s a lot of controversy about giving kids in sports tournaments participatory trophies, with the mindset that everyone is a winner just for participating. You get a prize just for being there.

-But Paul is saying don’t live the Christian life like you merely want a participatory trophy, but live your Christian life dedicated to winning the race (getting the winner’s trophy)—run like you are going to be victorious, because ultimately that’s actually who you are in Christ.

II) Run with discipline

-In the first part of v. 25 Paul says that the athlete that runs to win exercises self-control; and then in the first part of v. 27 Paul says that the runner disciplines his or her body and keeps it under control (literally meaning to enslave it)

-Paul is speaking about the discipline that an athlete goes under to condition his or her body to be able to compete in the athletic game at a level where winning is possible.

-As one commentator noted:

Paul is not like an occasional jogger who appreciates the value of a run now and then. His approach is more like the dedicated athlete who is strictly disciplined, knowing that his success depends on it.

-And Paul tells us that the way Christians discipline themselves is through rigorous effort of living for holiness, which means controlling the fleshly / worldly appetites that yank at the soul of the believer.

-Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:11 that to run like a victor entails warring against these things—

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1 Pet. 2:11 ESV)

-And so, the writer of Hebrews tells us in 12:1—

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Heb. 12:1 ESV)

-What these are saying is that to run the race like you are going to win means you discipline your body and soul in such a way that it is able to compete—which can be taken in both a positive and a negative light.

-Positively, athletes exercise and eat right in order to have healthy bodies that are able to endure the rigors of the sport in which they participate.

~For the Christian, we do what we can to take on Christian virtue, character, and holiness as we practice the various spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, fasting, among others.

-But this discipline is also taken in a negative way in that the athlete gets rid of that which would prevent them from being at their peak—they don’t eat garbage food, they don’t just sit around watching TV and playing video games all day long.

~The Christian doesn’t allow the garbage of a worldly society to drag it down as its values are spoon fed to us through our entertainment choices.

-Jesus, in a similar vein to this theme, tells us in the Sermon on the Mount—

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. (Matt. 5:29-30 ESV)

-Jesus says to radically get rid of anything in your life that is preventing you from running the Christian race in a victorious manner. Do whatever it takes to discipline your body, mind, and spirit to be at peak spiritual efficiency.

-Just think for a moment what it would take for you to get your body in shape to not only compete but to win at some sport. So, for example, if I wanted to not only compete in a marathon, but also to win at a marathon, it would take a completely radical change of lifestyle. Right now, my body is only good enough shape to run to a Chinese Buffett or run to get some ice cream or run to the next Star Wars movie.

~For me to win in a marathon would take the discipline of self-control and training: I would need to get up every morning and run; I would need to completely overhaul my diet. But if I want to win, I do what I have to do.

-How much more, if I want to win the Christian race, should I discipline myself to win. If it means getting up early to do my Bible study and prayer, I do it. If it means less TV time and more Scripture memory, I do it. If it means less athletics and more Christian service, I do it.

-Now is the time to get rid of the excuses over why we are not running towards victory in our Christian walk, and instead do something about it.

~One teacher gives us this perspective:

The strenuous self-denial of the athlete as he sought a fleeting reward is a rebuke to half-hearted, flabby Christian service. The athlete denies himself many lawful pleasures and the Christian must similarly avoid not only definite sin, but anything that hinders spiritual progress.

-To be an athlete that can compete to win, it requires discipline of body and mind and spirit. So it is with the Christian—our mind and bodies and spirits are controlled so that we are able to run the race for Christ.

III) Run with direction

-In v. 26 Paul says that the athlete doesn’t run aimlessly, or the boxer doesn’t merely throw punches in the air.

~During a race in the Olympics, when the starting pistol goes off, the runner doesn’t start running into the grass, then into the stands with the spectators, and out into the parking lot. They stay in the lane and remain focused on the race until they cross the finish line.

~A boxer doesn’t throw aimless punches in the air but focuses in on his opponent’s body and face to land precise blows that will do the most damage.

-Paul is saying that running towards victory means having purpose behind what you do with a focus on Jesus Christ—there is a direction toward which we are aiming. You don’t just do stuff to do stuff. You do what gets you closer to the goal.

-Our goal is to hear from the lips of our Savior “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Our goal is to faithfully live for and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we are going to remain focused on that, not turning to the left or to the right.

-Not only are our eyes fixed on the goal, but we take notice of how we are running the race. We have a strategy behind what we do—we don’t stick to things that are comfortable or the easy way, but we go with what is the best way and the most God-honoring way.

-We pay attention and make choices regarding how we use our time, talents, abilities, resources, and money. We don’t live for the here and now or live for earthly pleasure or comfort, but eternity is on our mind, and God’s Word is in our heart.

-There’s a story about how Mohammad Ali prepared to fight Joe Frazier. At the time most sports commentators expected Frazier to win. During Ali's training sessions he allowed his sparring partners to pin him in the corner and literally beat him up. He had never previously trained this way. But Ali knew that his opponent was strong and would not be easy to beat. He knew that he would have to suffer much pain in the fight, so he prepared his body by subjecting himself to it in preparation. During the fight with Frazier he absorbed all that Frazier could dish out for the first eight rounds. Ali even taunted Frazier to hit harder. Then after his opponent was tiring he struck a knock out blow unexpectedly. Ali pushed himself on through the pain to win the fight.

-You see, Ali was focused on how to win the fight and directed his training to accomplish that goal. He didn’t do things just to do things but focused in on what was most important.

-In our short time here on earth, where we are charged with serving Christ and expanding His kingdom, we direct our energies toward the way of winning that race.

IV) Run with discernment

-At the end of verse 27 Paul says that he does what he needs to do so that he won’t be disqualified from the race.

~In no way is this somehow implying that we could lose our salvation, but it is a dire warning that we need to run the race with discernment, not allowing ourselves to do something that would prevent us from running towards victory.

-How many preachers have fallen, crash-landing their ministry and causing damage to all those around them? How many Christians have destroyed families and hindered their own and others’ races with God because of bad choices? Yes, there is always grace that extends forgiveness and healing, but the race will never be the same again.

~Paul warns that running to win is something that is constantly before us. And just like one rule infraction in an Olympic game could prevent an athlete from winning the gold, so all it takes is one bad choice for the Christian’s race to be railroaded.

-And so, at the end of v. 25, Paul reminds us that we are not running to win a perishable wreath, but an imperishable wreath.

~In the athletic games of those days, the winners didn’t win medals, but were crowned with wreaths made of celery leaves. Winning a salad on your head doesn’t sound like a lot to us, but it was a status symbol back in those days.

-But the point is that what the winners in athletic contests win will not last forever. Olympic medals will not live forever. The Lombardi trophy will not live forever. The Stanley Cup will not live forever. All your trophies and medals and accolades will not last forever.

~But…what we do in the race of our Christian lives will last forever. What we do for Christ will live on for eternity. So, we run with eternity on our minds—that will lead us to the win.

Conclusion

-Good athletes do what is necessary to win. They spend countless hours studying their sport. They learn the strengths and weaknesses of their competition. They watch videos of past performances and learn how they can improve. They spend time away from home training and competing. This involves a cost of time and money, but they are competing to win.

-Let me ask you: are you running the Christian race for victory, or just to participate? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to run to win?

-Christian, I invite you to the altar today to commit yourself to doing whatever it takes to be a Christian who wins—one who gives everything to the love and service of Christ.

-But in order to run to win, you have to be in the race. The only way to truly be a Christian is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Our Christian culture tries to tell us that there are many ways to run the race (be it through religion or good works or some form of morality), but the only way to truly run towards victory is by realizing you are a sinner separated from God, believing that Jesus died to satisfy God’s just anger toward you, and surrender your life to Him as Lord….