Have you ever trained hard to compete in something you really wanted to win? Maybe you had a goal in mind: status, fame, validation of your hard work, a sense of accomplishment, or even a trophy or medal. There’s always a prize at the end, and the harder the road, the bigger that prize may feel.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Paul had his eyes fixed on the end goal: an eternity with Jesus and an eternal crown of reward for the life he lived on earth!
Have you ever started a new challenge, only to bail quickly once things became difficult? Think about that time and ask yourself: Did you have a clear picture of what waited for you at the finish line? How does knowing an eternal reward waits for you at the finish line of this life encourage you to give this race everything you’ve got?
It’s incredible to witness the intense training athletes endure and the sacrifices they make when their aim is to win. How much more can the eternal value of the race we run as believers motivate us? When it feels like living a life of faith is too hard, ask yourself, “What’s the prize?” Like Paul, let it fuel you to RUN.
The challenges we face in our spiritual journey can feel overwhelming, but they pale in comparison to the eternal reward that awaits us. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and remember that the race we run has a prize that far outshines any earthly reward. So, when the going gets tough, keep running, knowing that the crown of life is waiting for you at the finish line.
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