Running for an Eternal Prize

Running for an eternal prize

“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.  
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.  
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 
                            1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Here Paul speaking about himself compares himself like an athlete. He notes that athletes discipline themselves. They train themselves for the test ahead.
They do what they have to do to make their body perform to the best of its ability for the coming event.
So to it is with us who are presenting the gospel. We need to train, we need to study to understand the scriptures that we may be worthy of Christ.
Paul writing to Timothy states.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 
                                                                            2 Timothy 2:15.
We cannot expect ourselves to perform at our best if we don’t study. If we don’t prepare.
I’m a clown and a magician. I think I’m a pretty good one. At least that’s what people tell me. But I didn’t get that way overnight. I practised and studied my art.
I’ve had people tell me it’s easy being a clown. I told them if it was so easy let me see them make people laugh for half an hour or more. They can’t.
I spend hours rehearsing just to make people think I’m the biggest idiot in the room. To make them laugh.
Even friends that see me forget it’s me and think of me as Forgetful dee Clown.
When I’m performing my magic, really slight of hand. I have to do it seamlessly or the magic is meaningless.
 I know how to do what I do as well as I do it because I’ve rehearsed I’ve studied my craft and have in excess of thirty years experience.
It’s the same way when we are presenting the gospel of Christ. We need to study not only the bible but bible history, church history and be up on current and social events.
We need to be well rounded and we definitely need to be disciplined to stay on topic.
When I perform there are distraction but I can’t let them get in the way of what I’m doing.
Likewise with Christians. We are going into a world full of distractions. People who think they know the bible and people who frankly could care less about what it says.
We need to be prepared to meet them where they are at.
We also need the discipline and the knowledge of Christ in order that we do not get pulled away from what we believe.
That is why Paul says,
“...I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
This is not to do as some monks or hermits did in years past and some still do today, beat their bodies physically or practice self denial.
This is not what Paul is saying. He’s talking in a spiritual sense. To bring our bodies into submission by studying the word of God. By praying and meditating on the word of God.
Because only in doing so will we win the eternal prize of an eternity with God in heaven.
Think about it.