Based on 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 10:12 (New King James Version)
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
The interesting thing about the matter is that the Apostle Paul compares salvation or obtaining an incorruptible crown to a race in a stadium. Why would he make that comparison? Because he, inspired by the Holy Spirit, makes it known that obtaining salvation is something that takes a lot of dedication, sacrifice, and determination, and of course, that it has to do with something that must be adopted as a lifestyle. In order to understand the matter well, you have to understand what exactly this physical running is about.
To begin, we must see that we are talking about a competition. And when there is competition, there must be training, preparation, many different things so that a person can stand out from the rest. In a running competition, it's not about bringing together a bunch of unconditioned people or even novices, but professional athletes, so that there can be some genuine competition. Think about this. Can a person who neither trains, nor eats well, nor conditions their body, who is overweight, compete against another person who lives a methodical life, who is robust, strong, training every day, in their best physical shape? Of course not. It's not even a competition. And for this reason, in legitimate competitions, there are basic things that an athlete must have, rudimentary requirements that must be met to be admitted into a race. The Lord looks at the matter in the same way, and for this reason, he reiterates this same concept in another passage, as it is written: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:1-2.
So, what's this all about? That simply, a person cannot attain salvation, eternal life, or the crown of life just because they prayed some kind of prayer at a given moment, or because they do certain things and not others, or because they believe they are something without being it genuinely. A person does not reach the immortality that only God can give for being religious, or a good person, or for saying they believe in Christ. Salvation is only obtained if a person actually begins a real and genuine relationship with the Almighty through the Lord Jesus Christ and retains and lives that faith until they draw their last breath, a person who is faithful to the end. In the passage that we read today, the Apostle Paul speaks of his own surrender and fight for his faith in Christ, and that even he could have been eliminated if he did not take legitimate care. If Paul showed that this could happen in his own life, a person who did dedicate his whole life to the Gospel, who suffered persecution, was imprisoned, was flogged, and even died for a few moments after being stoned, what would that mean to us? Can we take salvation so lightly? Is the matter of reaching eternal life really that easy? It is impossible. If Paul feared, cared for, and even fought for his faith in Christ, we too must do the same. This same advice was given by the apostle: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.
That is why he also wrote about those who did not care to be faithful to God, those who fell in the desert. He himself puts them as an example of failure. Even though they were part of God's people, they did not reach the promised land. And let this be very clear, if God did away with them in the desert, it was not to reward them with eternal life later. Their days in this world were shortened and they arrived more quickly to their eternal punishment. If they, who were God's chosen people, were not forgiven, what would be left for the vast majority of us who by nature are completely foreign to heavenly promises? We Gentiles have nothing to do with what is still God's holy people. We have only been added, grafted onto the royal olive tree, only through the mercy, goodness, and grace of God. This is what the Word says, a very clear warning to those who think they can abuse the grace of God: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.
Salvation is not something to be taken lightly. And of course, it should be clear that you cannot play with God. The reward of eternal life will be only for those who not only believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but who seek to do God's will in every aspect of their lives. If a person does not seek to fulfill the will of the Father in their life, in response to the grace that has been granted, they will not see eternal life, but the closest they will get to see God is His throne in the judgement, and then to an eternal hell. Today more than ever God should be taken seriously, because the end will not be good, not even in this temporary world, and even worse, in the eternal punishment. Be wise and run the race you must run so you can attain eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. So, are you running towards God today? Lord bless! John