As we look at today's scripture readings, 1 Corinthians 9:24-28 and 2 Timothy 4:7-8. the focus is on running the race to get to the ultimate prize with both passages being writtne by Paul. If you have participated in some type of competition you know that you weren't able to just wake up in the morning and go and compete without having spent time learning the rules, training for the competition and learning about proper form and technique. It also may take unsuccessful attempts to win, failures and setbacks. It takes proper nutrition and rest. Training takes perserverance, When it's all said and done, when race day comes, there is nothing so exhilarting and amzing as crossing the finish line and getting that medal. 

     There are times when running the race you might want to quit, and you question your judgement about trying to compete, but the reward for working hard to prepare, competing and finishing the race is so worth it. 

     Paul uses the ilustration of a race to portray the Christian life in several of his teachings, but none more vividly than in the one in 1rst Corinthians. Paul begins this message by pointing out a common thing in many races-many of the participants who entered the race might not complete the race and there is only one winner. Running is not the same as winning, only one gets the prize. 1rst Corinthians 9:24 specifically states, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?" So what does Paul mean by this? Does he mean that there is only one winner in Christianity, or one winner per church? His point is not that, but that running is not the same as winning, and that although it takes a lot of effort to run, it takes much more to run and win. You have to finish the race in order to win. You can run the first part of the race in record time, but it doesn't mean anything if you don't finish the race. Winning the spiritual race doesn't depend on how fast you run, it is determined by HOW you run. Verse 24 says, "run in such a way as to get the prize." Paul also tells the Corinthians how to run. 

     Verse 25 in some Bible interpretations states, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training - self control" Self control-this is the principle of discipline. You cannot eat and drink everything you would like to if your're going to win races. You can still eat a hamburger and french fries, but it won't help you win any race. In the same respect, Paul realizes there are certain things he has to give up if he's going to win the race that God has set before him. Sometimes it means giving up liberties that he has a right to enjoy. But if it means the difference between winning and losing, then Paul is ready to give up anything that might stand in his way. 

     Motivation - Verse 25 goes on to say, "they do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a corn that will last forever. the winner of the Isthmus Games received an olive wreath that had been fashioned into the shape of a crown. This olive wreath was placed on his head. It declared him to be the winner. This was the goal for which he strived and the motivation for all his training. He would wear the wreath and would receive the acclaim from the crowd. He was the winner. And then he would go home and place the weath over the mantle of his fireplace. But the years would pass and the wreath would fade turn brown and become brittle to the touch which would then have to be discarded. Paul says that we have a much greater prize. One that will not fall apart in a few years, rather we are striving for an eternal prize and this should be a great source of motivation - one that is going to count for all eternity. 

     Efficiency - Verse 26 states, "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air." Races are not necessarily won by the one who runs the hardest, but by the one who runs the smartest. Paul uses two illustrations to make his point-there is the man who runs with a purpose and destination and the boxer who makes every punch count instead of punching at the air. In both examples, the point is the same-the effort that is used must be effective in achieving the desired goal. 

     Disqualification - Verse 27 "I beat my body and make if my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Disqualifications is Paul's final principle of winning. One of the hardest things about any race is that it is possible to go through all of the training, exert all of the energy to run the entire race, only to be disqualified because of an infringement of the rules. The spiritual race is no different. What are the rules of the race? They are the commands that God has given us, the instructions found in His Word. As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Believing in Christ as our saviour is essential. Don't merely observe from the grandstands; don't just train halfway, train diligently=your spiritual progress and final reward depends on it.