1 Corinthians 9:25

Pasta, energy drinks, nutrition bars, no drugs or alcohol, day in and day out, pace, fast, speed, focus, race, beat, win. All of these words describe one thing, The Olympics. When I think of the Olympics I think of people eating the healthiest foods that make them the fastest as possible. They work out and train day in and day out. When it comes down to the race they do is focus on self-gratification to win. They want to beat everyone else who’s trying to win the same thing. They do it for the crown!

The sport I think of in the Olympics is swimming. I love the swimming competitions. I watched a girl Megan Ramona from my high school miss the final race into the finals, by less than a second. It hurt her; she was so close but yet too far to win the prize. Did she work hard enough she thinks to herself. Did she give it her all? She worked so hard, but thinks to herself it wasn’t good enough. Unfortunatly she was racing the race for the earthly prize. When Paul speaks this verse I believe he wants us to learn to race the races in life for the Lord. Racing to win affections and items here on earth will fade away. Think about this for a moment. A man wins the Olympic game one year and he becomes the most wanted person in America. Everyone wants his autograph and want’s to meet him. But the following game comes up four years later and there’s a new guy who wins. Everyone’s affection leaves the old winner moving on to the new guy that one. Soon the old guy is forgotten. Usually this concept repeats unless the winner makes it into the hall of fame where he will be remembered for ever by people on earth. The thing is, is where ever they go when they pass away, no one there will care that they won the Olympics. So race the races for the Lord, do everything you do for the honor of someone who will last forever. Do the race to get the heavenly prize.

Application: Today I will race the race to win the prize in heaven and to win the affection of God my creator. Today if someone does something for the Lord I will congratulate by encouraging them that they are wining prizes in heaven.