Athletes compete according to the rules of the sport"Also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:5
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
Footballers (soccer) don't suddenly pick up the ball & begin hopping it off other players shouting 'you're out' as though it were dodge ball. Sprinters in a 100 meter race don't do the triple jump in the middle, & wrestlers don't begin prancing to swan lake while their opponent slams them down.
No, if we are competing in a particular sport, we obey that sports rules. And so it is with Christians, we are called by Christ to be His alone - 'No one can serve two masters' and so Christians do not take mass, pray to Allah, obey the book of Mormon or sacrifice animals. We are called not only to separate from other religions [John 14:6 sort of sums this up], but to repent of sin. Hence we do not eat like a glutton, lie, steal, cheat, get drunk, kill even the most annoying people, live in homosexual behaviours or sleep with the girl who we aren't married to but is so hot she should act as a reminder of hell [see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11].
Jesus says in John 14:15
"If you love Me, keep My commandments" calling Christians to follow Him & only Him, as He also said in John 14:6 that He is the way the truth & the life & no one comes to the Father except through Him", and so canceled out all other religions & means by which we may come to God.
As those who participate in rugby follow only the rules from the referee of their sport, & not those of soccer or a wrestling referee, we are called to follow only Christ, & warned that if we follow any other, we will not get to God nor Heaven.
As Athletes compete for a prize, Christians receive reward & we will stand before Christ to receive the rewards for this 'Race'.
Revelation 22:12
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done".
We are promised reward for good works, however the Bible is clear that we are not saved by works, but rather we work because we are saved:
Ephesians 2:8-10
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do".
Any athlete serious about seeking a prize is one who's life is very disciplined & focused Likewise in following after Christ, discipline & focus play a huge role as we read His Word, Pray & exercise Spiritual disciplines over our body. As athletes watch what they eat etc, we watch what we put into our minds & lives aiming to have our minds & lives renewed and conformed to the image of Christ.
Lets strive after Christ, seeking the reward of knowing Him & the power of His resurrection. To discipline and focus our lives & to follow Him in obedience to His Words.
[For further consideration: athletes don't get to bend the rules as so many of us seem to do with God's Word]
{For other posts in this series go here}
