With the FIFA World Cup beginning this week, our city is buzzing with excitement to be one of the host cities for this globally popular event. I love seeing people in our community represent their heritage or favourite team—whether it's the Oranje or Les Bleus, or the Canadians cheering on our national team, it's always exciting to be a part of a massive sporting event like this.
The Apostle Paul lived in Corinth for about eighteen months; he would have undoubtedly experienced this kind of hype around the sporting event called the Isthmian Games. Corinthians had hosted the biennial games for centuries by the time Paul lived there, and the games were arguably only second to the ancient Olympic Games in its prestige. Therefore, Paul's audience was very familiar with the athletic metaphor when he said, "Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Cor. 9:25).
He uses the athletic analogy to describe how athletes are so disciplined and locked in, even to the point of sacrificing much of their freedom in order to win a sports competition that would bring them honour and glory. They do it to receive a perishable wreath. In other words, they do it to receive honour and glory that only matters in this lifetime. However, when we faithfully follow Jesus, we are running a race that would bring honour and glory that endures into eternity—a life with lasting significance.
As you watch the athletes in this World Cup, pay attention to the hard work that they've put in to get to this point, to be masters of their craft, and then let's examine how we're doing in our preparation for the race that defines us for eternity.
- as seen in The Delta Optimist
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