Catching (not casting) Crowns…1 Cor. 9:24-27

²⁴ You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. ²⁵ All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. ²⁶ I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! ²⁷ I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. --- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (The Message)

What are you doing in your life right now that is putting you on track for a heavenly gold medal? Are you investing heavily in a person, missionary, Christian organization? Are you praying regularly and passionately for God to intervene in a crucial situation? Are you volunteering your time to serve Christ? Is there something, anything, in your life that merits a gold medal?

The Apostle Paul was convinced that he was running in a competition. He was not satisfied with the silver or bronze – just as most Olympic athletes scorn any medal other than the coveted gold. If you’ve been watching the Beijing 2008 Olympics, you even saw an athlete throw his bronze medal down and walk away. Paul too wanted to win the 1^st place prize (vs. 24).

Some people run for fun. Others run to win. Put Paul in the latter camp. He appeals to us to do the same: “Run in such a way that you may obtain it (the prize)” (vs. 24b). Olympic athletes run to win a medal they can’t take with them when they die. Christians run to win a medal that is “imperishable”.

Last night some high-profile runners were disqualified from the men’s 200 meter race after finishing 2^nd and 3^rd. Why? They ran out of their lanes!

Paul was extremely concerned that he might be disqualified. Rigid personal discipline is how Paul kept himself from elimination (vs. 27).

The greatly admired and respected Apostle Paul took extreme risks for Christ. He ran to win. He was competing for a permanent crown. He did whatever it took to remain in the race and stay in his “lane”. What are you competing for? Are you running for fun, or to win?