In 2 Timothy, chapter 2, Paul used three illustrations or life examples that his audience would understand, one after another, to make his point: the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer. Paul loved to use real life examples so that his audience could relate to his message. I want to focus on the athlete.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25, “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.”
Back in Paul’s day, the Isthmian games were held every second year. They took place on the seacoast, about nine miles away from the city of Corinth. The competitors would spend all year training hard and dieting for these games. In this sporting event, only one person would win the prize… a wreath, believed to have been made of pine leaves and a branch, which was placed on the winner’s head. It was all about honour to these people back then. The one with the wreath was the winner and got all the honour and glory.
The winner would be lifted up on peoples’ shoulders so that everyone could see him. He would tower above everyone. People would shout praises to him and applaud, throwing flowers all over him. His family would be honoured by his victory as well and he would ride out in a chariot. His name would appear in poems and songs. And as Paul pointed out in verse 25, this wreath and this honour didn’t last. It was short lived because in two years time, someone else would get the crown, the wreath, and the honour. The former winner would be forgotten.
A Christian has something more worthwhile. It is a crown that will last forever. This crown comes with great glory and honour for those who will have remained faithful to the Lord until the end.
We are told in Hebrews 2:11-12,“Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation, I will sing your praises.’”
Here again is the concept of honour and glory and perhaps Jesus was also using an illustration. He made us holy when we obeyed the gospel. We were added to God’s family when we were washed by His blood and made holy. And it is God’s family that shares in the honour of the one who won the victory and finished the race…which is Jesus. We have won the victory as well by overcoming the world. We did that when we obeyed the gospel and as we continue to do so.
However, we still need to finish the race that we started when we obeyed the gospel. Finishing the race to receive the prize is not just about eternal life but also living with God in His presence. This is why we obeyed the gospel, so that we can look forward to that day upon which we have set our hope. But we have to finish the race to get there.
There is also another important point in this lesson, which is – that anyone who competes in a race must do so according to the rules. Second Timothy 2:5 says,“Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.”
We need to always be reading our Bibles, studying it to find out what pleases our Lord Jesus Christ. It is our standard for living. It teaches us how to stay on course and finish the race. The New Testament is filled with the teachings of Christ, the rules of the race.
In Galatians 5:1-12 (read), Paul talked about those who had come among Gentile Christians to convince them that they had to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses to be saved. These trouble makers, obviously Jews, were trying to steer their Christian brothers off their course. They cut in front of them to convince them that obedience to the gospel, was not enough.
Paul responded in verse 11 that if salvation could be attained by observing the Law of Moses, then he would say so. But as it was, these same false brethren were persecuting Paul. He himself was a Jew, yet he knew that this alone did not save him. He was saved by faith in Jesus and obedience to His Lord’s will. He was no longer under the Law of Moses which by itself was never able to save anyone. Paul had already talked about this kind of obedient faith in chapter 3. It is by obedient faith that we came to obey the gospel and it is by obedient faith that we run this race, our Christian journey.
During our race, we need to be a voice of encouragement to one another. We need to help each other to stay on the course and not stray from it. This means tough love sometimes. We need to be concerned for each other’s souls. We have to take an attitude where we want to see every person make it to the finish line. And the best part about this race we are running: every person who crosses the finish line is a winner.
I would like to point out what is believed to be Paul’s final words to Timothy and is the last letter or book he wrote.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 says,“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
In verse 7, Paul said “I have fought the good fight.” He fought hard against sin and evil. He fought hard to remain a Christian. He fought hard against false teachers by using God’s word to refute them. Paul then went on to say, “I have finished the race.” Paul used this kind of imagery and language to make his point.
Finally, Paul said, “I have kept the faith.” He was faithful to Jesus and didn’t give up. He could have easily given in to all the pressure from those who opposed him but he didn’t. He could have followed the in-crowd and become very popular. He could have allowed himself to become a great speaker, idolized by many, but he didn’t do any of those things.
He allowed himself to be despised, stoned, whipped, insulted, and so much more because he wanted to please God rather than men. Paul had no desire to win a man-made crown. He had a crown of righteousness waiting for him. Paul’s crown was not to be a symbol of his own righteousness, nor was it to be an award that he had merited, or had earned.
Those who have longed for the appearing of Christ, who have obeyed the gospel, who have kept the faith, also have a crown waiting for them, laid up in heaven. We have the promise of being with Jesus one day, reunited with our Creator, and nothing is more glorious than that.
We know why we entered this race and what the prize is for finishing. We need to realize that we are running that race right now; it is our life ‘in Christ’ which began when we obeyed the gospel.
Let’s encourage one another – careful not discourage. Let us use the word of God to teach, correct and train us for righteousness as Paul puts it in 2 Timothy 3:16. Let us stay the course and stay on course. And may we continue to live by faith in the gospel that we obeyed, in obedience to the Lord whom we profess, holding fast to His teachings preserved in the word.
Tough times are upon us all and the things happening in the world threaten to distract and discourage. But let us not lose sight of the finish line. May we all work together to finish the race and keep the faith as we try to serve God rather than men!
Winnipeg MB