Training to Win Righteousness

1 Cor. 9:16–27

We can learn a little bit from sports. Not a lot, since made-up games have no lasting meaning, but God inspired St. Paul to use the illustration of the athlete who competes to win. We are to be even more dedicated and focused in our goal to remain in the faith—though our prize is not on earth.

Sports do not matter by definition. When someone close to a team dies a game is sometimes postponed, because it would be disrespectful to do something then that doesn’t have much significance. But the pitch of modern society is that the game is everything, even life itself. But what is the impact on real lives—do playing games help improve or just entertain, distract, and take our attention off of what really matters—such as family duties given by God Himself. Sports has become an ultra-escapism from reality and responsibility with no meaningful consequences for many. The worship of games shows how frivolous all other things are considered.

Gambling is one of the fastest growing industries here and combined with sporting events tries to give it meaning—but only insofar as getting without working for it is meaningful. Trust in chance is not compatible with a true, godly faith in Christ—who reliably helps us and provides for every need. But watching someone perform does not help you succeed. Team success does not truly elevate the fanatic who does not materially contribute to winning. All imagined success of a chosen team is a mental trick—fandom does not confer real glory or benefits. We need something more tangible.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? The lesson is that determination and effort matter—a major victory will not just happen by itself without some struggle and effort. How many fans would be mad if an athlete admitted that they don’t care about the upcoming game or result, just the paycheck—that would be upsetting to many religiously orthodox fans. But the athlete’s passion is not why they are in the position to compete—they must be able to physically perform.

Those who are professional athletes do not live like the rest of us. They optimize and regiment their lives to improve performance down to the smallest detail. I heard one athlete say: “If I don’t get 8 hours of sleep a night I’ve failed at my job.” Food is fuel and every meal is planned and weighed for the focused athlete. This is not bad, but we are not just physical beings, mere animals without deeper intention and eternal purpose. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

We are created physical-spiritual beings by our God. The flesh, earthly metrics we can measure and compare, but the soul is of greater value than all the gold medals in the world. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? The body, no matter the care and dedication mustered, is cursed and must return to dust. So fleshly gospels must fail us—there is no immortality in playing children’s games. For example, some great winners on the field behave as animals off of it, without knowledge of right and wrong, living in rank immorality. The body can be trained well—but the heart can still be completely filthy.

How many want to be pure in what they consume—but the words that exit the mouth are vile and uncontrolled? How many seek the best looking body, but don’t use it in an honorable way—denigrating marriage and our created purpose. There are many ways to let sin win you over—which Satan knows, even if we are not paying attention.

The lessons in competing and achieving a goal teach us something. Being a Christian is not a free-for-all without purpose or intention. To stay on the narrow path requires suffering and real determination—not running or lifting or jumping—but to resist sin each day. Do not depend on yesterday’s training—you need to receive beneficial, godly discipline for your mind and will today. To take faith for granted is to risk losing sight of it—and denying Christ by fleshly living. Being Christian is not a choose-your-own adventure—your trials are chosen from above and the only way to succeed is in Jesus and His cross.

The free salvation of Christ is ours by grace, but like a person cruising along in first place, carelessly breaking the rules still results in disqualification. I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. Live with purpose—not forgetting that you are still in the race and Satan has not forgotten you. How many athletes have felt the exhilaration of winning but were stripped of their awards for drug use—years later. An upright lived life without a faith that endures to death—is even more tragic than the disgraced doper. All the work, effort, and real sweat they poured out—is all discredited. So it is not enough to sacrifice to live as a Christian for decades. The race is not won—our prize still lies ahead in faith.

What motivates us to continue? We do not have what we seek—the glory of heaven and our God’s presence. But the champions of this world sacrificegreatly to receive a perishable wreath. The glory is soon forgotten, though it is worshipped and adored in the moment—it’s all imagined and temporary.

Being faithful with the body to the Lord is more important and meaningful than a championship. Receiving forgiveness and righteousness from Jesus is more glorious than being Superbowl MVP. Hearing God’s Word is more life-changing than the attention of legions of fans, who can’t remove the stain of one sin. God gives His glory to the humble—not those who seek attention right now. We have a greater goal—beyond this earth. We should be single-minded and more serious than the most intense athlete—in our quest for eternal glory.

While in this race of faith, competing to achieve true life, we are to live with purpose. Sports stars sacrifice and say no to many things to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.    We have a greater, more lasting goal—so don’t forget your calling in Christ. Be ready to sacrifice your most treasured ideas and wants—to Christ who calls you to live beyond death.

Your baptismal race has not been completed and finished. Sin in you is not dead and your flesh has not waved the white flag. So we must continue to fight and resist temptation to not let ourselves become disqualified. How many deny the grace of their baptism, by seeking earthly glory more than Christ. The love for status, reputation, riches, and human glory is an ever-present danger. We must be diligent in resisting what pulls us away from Christ. Even if you seem to be close to the finish line—temptation will not let up. The marathon runner who collapses before the finish line in first place has failed, if he cannot get up and cross the line.

We neither work for salvation, nor should it be taken for granted. We live by faith that we have what is being promised, only sin can drag us away. And your real problems are not physical. They cannot be seen. You are fleshly, drawn to what does not matter or truly help. We ignore God’s will and think that right now is all that matters. This is a selfish idolizing of the present—ignoring God’s promises and the power of the Gospel. We too easily get tired of pursuing righteousness and bored with the true Gospel—the flesh is quite weak. This unbelief, always with us, threatens to derail our reception of Christ’s salvation. Don’t let your entire life so far be a foolish false start that counts for nothing. Christ is all in all for you—in Him you cannot be less than righteous.

The problem is not with Christ or His Gospel—it is with us. We get easily distracted and forget what He has said. We think the cross in our lives will be an easy, fun game—forgetting what Christ did for us in holiness. We don’t have to take things too seriously though—even when the world is silenced. God will provide—we do not have to know how the earthly results will come about. The eternal is where our certainty lies.

Tossing is a ball, no matter how far or accurate, is not a big deal—it won’t change a single life before God. But we are God’s baptized children, called to live eternally. The world will not let you have and keep the Word easily; there are no short-cuts to growing into Christ. The Lord’s blood is all-valuable, but if we think our achievements and sacrifices matter more, we have lost.

Let games be games and life be in Christ. It is sad to see kids be over-organized in sports and extracurricular activities. It easily becomes like a job, losing the fun and spontaneity of play—a burden and obligation, not a distraction. Games are not an end in themselves—they do not help us before the Lord.

There is no salvation or eternal future in what we do—all is doomed because of our sin. God exalted Christ at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins to us. There is our glory—not on this earth, which is a minefield with many pitfalls of sin to navigate.

Let us strive with all intensity to enter into God’s rest, which we grasp by faith. Be ready to learn from Christ, giving up whatever does not help you towards winning heaven. Press on toward the goal of the upward prize. It still lies ahead. Do not cease to strive, living out your calling in Jesus. Amen.