From Corinth to Vancouver
1 Corinthians 9:25: “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.” (NIV)
The ancient city of Corinth was home to the Isthmian Games. The Isthmian Games was a prestigious sporting event; second only in importance to the Olympic Games in Athens. The Isthmian Games included: running races, wrestling, boxing, jumping, and javelin toss. The athletes were required to devote ten months to strict training, but despite this rigorous preparation thousands of athletes came from all over the Empire to compete in the Games. These athletes had the same goal: to win their competition, but only the best of the best won. As St. Paul says, “… only one gets the prize.” (24) And, do you know what the winner received? The prize was a wreath of withered celery!
Paul reminds us that Christians are in strict training as well. We are not in training so that we might win a withered wreath or even, a golden crown. We are in training for a “crown that will last forever.” (25) We are in training for “more than gold.”
The believer’s “crown” is already won through Jesus Christ! One preacher writes, “It is a prize-winning blow that knocked Satan from the ring. It is the fight of your life and you don’t even have to throw a punch to win! Jesus did all the fighting. He took all the blows. He bled and died.” Yes, Jesus was down for the count … “7, 8, 9 ….” Satan had his hands raised in victory, but Christ got up off the mat and dealt Satan and death one final devastating blow that leveled Satan and death once and for all. Resurrection! TKO!
In light of what our Saviour has accomplished, we can say with St. Paul, “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.” (2 Timothy 4:8)
In the meantime, we continue to, “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) And, as we “press on toward the goal to win the prize” we invite others to join us in this training so that they too “may share in the blessings” of Christ (23) and receive the crown that lasts forever.
– Dr. Glenn Schaeffer
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