Living for THE Day Instead of Living for Today…
I Corinthians 9:24-27
The Finish.
It’s all about the finish.
Somewhere along the way, you’ve heard about the finish. You’ve heard about the reward, and the exhilaration, and it lit a small fire deep in your soul.
The fire grows. The Finish becomes more than something you hear about. It becomes an obsession. Your ears peak when you hear someone talking about the Finish. You meet others who are similarly interested in the Finish. You start to imagine yourself at the Finish, receiving your reward. The fire in your soul grows.
You begin to study the path to the finish. Everyday decisions are made with the Finish in mind. You hear stories of others who have Finished well, and sadly, stories of others who start out with so much promise, but finish poorly. But their stories only feed the fire that is by now raging in your soul. You are determined to reach the finish – and finish well!
But you know there’s only one way to reach the finish. All the talk has to become commitment. The commitment must translate into effort, effort into lifestyle, lifestyle into determination, and determination into action.
Finally the day comes for the test. Were you faithful enough to finish well? Were you committed enough to receive the prize? You find yourself filled with anticipation and doubt. An incredible mix of exhilaration and terror – a combustible blend of emotion that burns the fire within white hot - one minute certain you’ve done enough, the next wishing you’d done much more…
But it’s too late for that now – it’s time to find out how well you will FINISH…
For the last month we’ve been talking about finishing well. It’s been a discussion of Biblical stewardship – which we have defined as “Living for THE Day instead of living for TO-day.” One day each of us will finish this life, and we will stand before Jesus at the finish, and He will reward us for how well we performed as His disciples. That judgment will take place at a place called The BEMA – the Judgment Seat of Christ. It will not be a judgment do determine our salvation – but an assessment of our faithfulness. John’s Cross-Country team at Horicon High School this year wore team T-Shirts that read, “I will not waste the gift.” It meant that they would be faithful with the athletic talent they have. At the BEMA, we will be judged as to our faithfulness with the time, talent and treasure that Jesus has entrusted to us.
We started off with a dramatic presentation of what the BEMA seat might be like, and have focused our discussions since then with some thoughts on how we can live in such a way that we will be found faithful at that judgment. We focused in week one on having EYES THAT SEE – From the story of the Good Samaritan, we learned that we must be sensitive to the needy, wounded and hurting people around us. We dare not be so wrapped up in “church” that we ignore our “ministry.” Last week Bob Prouty, a missionary from Australia, talked with us about HEARTS THAT CARE. From the story of the Woman at the Well, we learned that in God’s value system, lost people matter more than anything else. The greatest thing we can do on this earth for maximum eternal consequence, is tell others about God’s love for them. He loves the world so much He gave His only Son, and if we want to please Him, we must care about lost people, too.
Today we are going to talk about LEGS THAT RUN. We are going to look at a passage of Scripture where Paul references the BEMA Seat and the rewards that believers will receive in proportion to their stewardship on earth. The passage is found in I Corinthians, chapter 9, beginning with verse 24. As the words appear on the screen, I invite you to take a Bible from the chairs around you and turn to the passage…and read along. Paul writes:
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 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. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Paul is clearly writing about living for THE Day instead of living for TO-day. He is concerned that he may get so wrapped up in the cares of this world, even the ministry cares of this world, that he might be disqualified from the prize. To make his point, he uses the image of a runner.
When Paul wrote this letter, sports was the largest entertainer of the day. Every city of
any size possessed a stadium. The most popular sport in that day was the marathon. The Marathon was an event that grew out of Greek culture. In 490 BC the Persian army landed at the port city of Marathon twenty six miles from Athens. The Greeks won the a major battle against overwhelming odds. A solider named Philippides was sent to tell the good news to the capital city of Athens. When he reached the city, after running 26 miles, he shouted, "Rejoice, we conquer," and fell to the ground dead. Philippides was such a national hero that running in his honor became a national passion – and the Marathon was born.
The Marathon is one of the most difficult of all sports to finish, but is enjoying a huge swing in popularity. In fact, last Sunday’s was the largest Marine Corps Marathon ever hosted, and was the fourth largest marathon in US history, with nearly 32,118 runners. Three of us are in this room today. Training for the Marathon lasted for more than a year. During that year I have learned some huge personal lessons about life that I hope I can convey to you today – because the lessons learned have a lot to do with what Paul is talking about in this passage of I Corinthians – they have changed the way I live, and the way I view my life…I pray that the Holy Spirit will use them to encourage and challenge you in your life.
1. Talk is easy – doing is hard.
The first lesson I learned is probably the most obvious. Talking about running a marathon is easy – Doing it is hard. Running a marathon was an idea that first popped into my head in 1972 when Frank Shorter won Gold for the US at the Munich Olympics. It’s been 34 years since that time, and the idea bounced around all that time. In the late 70’s and early 80’s my uncle David ran marathons all over the country, and even qualified for Boston, and my desire grew. Then a few years ago, after hitting 40, I thought, “if I’m ever going to do this, I’d better get at it.”
I read books on running, I saw videos, I subscribed to running magazines and I talked to my uncle and friends about it – that was easy – I could do that from the comfort of my easy chair, while eating a bag of Doritos and drinking Dr. Pepper! But talking and reading is a whole lot different than doing! Talk is Easy – Doing is Hard!
Doing means sacrifice – it means actually running! It means running in rain and wind, freezing cold and stifling heat. It means that sometime along the way you’re going to have a pulled muscle, or a strained tendon. You’re going to bleed and ache and struggle.
When it comes to the Kingdom of God, talk is easy, too. In Mark chapter 10 and in Matthew chapter 19 we have the story of a man who came to Jesus full of easy talk. He wanted to know how to inherit eternal life – he said he wanted to honor God and follow Him…but talk is easy, doing is hard. Jesus called him to move beyond talk, to action. The man ran up to Jesus, fell on his knees before Him, and asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Man, that’s the kind of question Jesus must have loved to hear! To have someone so eager and willing! Jesus called him to obedience, but the man had been obedient, but obviously knew more was needed. In verse 21 of that chapter, Mark writes, “Jesus looked at him, and loved him, and said, ‘One more thing you lack, go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow Me.”
The next verse is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. It says, “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
“What?! You mean I actually have to put God first in my life to please Him? Outrageous!”
Talk was easy – He said wanted to inherit the kingdom of God – but he wasn’t willing to enthrone God as King. He wanted to enjoy the riches of God’s eternal reward, and have earthly riches as his god. It just doesn’t work that way – talking about it doesn’t make it so. Too many of us in the church talk a good talk about kingdom living – but we don’t live for the kingdom. We talk about reaching the world for Jesus, but we don’t walk across the room to talk to our co-worker about Him. We all dream of heavens rewards, crowns and treasures, hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant!” We say we want all that – but we want it without having to be good and faithful servants! Talk is easy – doing is hard.
The second lesson is this:
2. You have to have the right equipment.
When I started running 18 months ago, I was wearing a pair of shoes that had been given to me by one of John’s friends – he had outgrown them. I wasn’t going to go and buy a new pair of shoes until I was sure I was going to stick with it! But over time it became obvious that I needed the right equipment. I learned about buying shoes that are made for my stride – I roll my feet out when I walk or run – it’s called supination – and there are shoes that are designed for me. Pretty soon I was buying shirts that keep you cool and dry in heat, and warm and dry in cold, shorts that provide extra comfort, packs that allow you to carry water and cell phones, and I learned the importance of carbohydrates, protein and water.
It may seem obvious that we have to have the right equipment in the Christian life, too. Ephesians chapter 6 outlines the armor that God has provided us for the battles we face. Hebrews chapter 12 challenges us to throw off the extra weight that hinders us and the things that entangle and run with perseverance the race that is set before us. There’s nothing new there – it’s obvious.
But the lesson I learned over the last year is that getting the right equipment once is not enough. Shoes are supposed to be replaced every 350-400 miles. If you’re running 30 to 40 miles a week, that comes pretty quick. And it’s not enough to drink water before you go out and run 15 – 18 miles – you’ve got to get new fluids in at least once every other mile or so – it can be dangerous not to.
The same is true in the Christian life. We go along thinking that we’ve got our equipment all set – we read the Bible – once. We memorized a few verses a while ago – but our equipment has gotten old, outdated and rusty. I’d guess that many of us haven’t memorized a verse of Scripture since we were kids – or fasted in months – or been to a conference or retreat for renewal and refreshing in years. Folks – that kind of neglect can be extremely dangerous for the Christian – it will quickly lead to spiritual dehydration, resulting in injury, fatigue and defeat. Romans 12:2 calls on us to be renewed in our minds on a continual basis. Runners are told to take a drink before they feel thirsty – by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrating. Christian – we need to be refreshing spiritually before we feel drained – we need to be in the word daily, praying, fasting, seeking after God continually.
3. You Need a Partner
The Third Lesson I learned was to not go it alone. I can’t tell you how vital it was for me as I trained to have a running partner. On those dark, cold, wet winter mornings when I didn’t want to get up, I got up anyway because I knew Larry was going to down on my porch waiting for me. On some days the first few miles of a run seemed unbearable – but by having a partner, I kept pushing on until I found my stride and kept going. Inevitably, those days when I felt I couldn’t go on, Larry was up – and when he was down, I was able to encourage him. We were there on that first morning when a single mile seemed like an impossible goal – and we stepped across the finish line at the exact same second last Sunday after completing 26.2 miles. Carol rode her bike behind Larry and I, or with John, on long runs to encourage us. As we ran on Sunday, Carol, our daughter Nicole and my mother were at several points along the way calling out encouragement and providing a necessary boost for us.
The idea of a lone ranger Christian is simply unbiblical. From Genesis through the entirety of the Scriptures we read that it is not good for man to be alone. From Abraham and Lot, Moses and Aaron, David and Jonathon, through the disciples, Paul and Barnabus, and other examples we see in practical portraits what is written in black and white: Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one, because they have good return for their work, if one falls down, his friend can help him up, but pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Hebrews 10:24&25 speaks directly to the church when the writer challenges us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see THE DAY approaching.”
If you want to live for THE Day in stead of To-day, you have got to have a spiritual partner who will hold you accountable, encourage you, challenge you, coach you and share insight with you. Any attempt to run the Christian race alone will leave you with regrets on judgment day.
4. Press On
The fourth lesson learned was that we must persevere. It may seem obvious, but it needs to be said – quitters don’t finish well. If you want to receive the prize, you must push on through the times of pain, discouragement, and setback. There are plenty of reasons to quit running – lost toenails, pulled muscles, bad weather, busy schedules – and lots of people do quit. But if we want to win the prize, we have to keep going.
Paul knew what it was to face setbacks. He was challenged at every turn – shipwreck, stonings, left for dead, physical ailments, spiritual attack, arguments and struggles from within and outside the church. But he kept pushing. In Philippians 3:14, he wrote, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
In the passage we looked at to open this message, I Corinthians 9, Paul writes that he keeps working his body, and disciplining himself so that he won’t be disqualified for the prize. Paul kept his eye on the prize – he lived every day for THE Day rather than for the present day. Now remember, we’re not talking about his salvation – Paul was not worried about losing his salvation – but he was concerned that at the conclusion of his life, he might not have anything of eternal significance to offer his Lord. He wanted to do his best for Jesus so that one day he would be found worthy of Christ’s reward – he pressed on, keeping his eye on the prize.
5. The Prize is Worth the Price
That brings me to the last lesson I want to share with you this morning – the prize is worth the price.
In the sport of marathon, there’s a saying – “To finish is to win.” It’s obvious that only 1 person is going to finish first, so the other 32,117 runners must have something other than first place in mind when they start out – and they do – to complete the course. For first timers, it’s about crossing the finish line – for others it’s about setting a new personal best time. Each runner has their own goal. For every person who finishes there is a reward – a Marine Lieutenant shakes your hand, congratulates you, and places a medal around your neck. You know what the first place runner gets? A handshake, a word of congratulations, and a medal around the neck – just like the last finisher!
There are two truths about the prize that I want to share. First, the journey is the prize. During the last 18 months, I’ve seen beautiful sunrises, enjoyed crisp runs in bright moonlight, learned to love running on hot days, discovered the amazing joy of hearing the rhythmic splashing of shoes on rain-soaked trails, had close encounters with deer, rabbits, snakes and a few cars. I’ve had silent solitary runs where I was able to just pour out my heart to God, and I’ve had fun runs with my wife, and sons. I’ve learned how to eat better, how to stretch more, to actually enjoy sitting in a bathtub full of ice. I’ve seen that consistent training really does result in better performance. I’ve learned so much – and been changed so much, that if, for some reason I had not been able to even travel to Washington last week for the marathon, I would still have already won so much.
Paul felt the same way about his journey. In 2 Corinthians 4, he outlined all the struggles he had endured along the way – “pressed hard on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed…” Then he says that this is all done “so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our body.” The journey itself is part of the prize. James tells us to “rejoice in our various trials” because they will, in the end, produce maturity. There’s no way to maturity without trials – and the trials and struggles and difficulties are within themselves part of the maturity we gain. The journey is the prize.
The second truth about the prize I want to share is this: The prize is worth the journey. Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Paul knew that when it was all over, and THE Day arrived, it would be worth it all. He knew that in that moment, when Jesus himself rewarded him for his faithful efforts, when Jesus presented him with the crown of righteousness, and the crown of life, and the crown of glory – that it would be worth it all. Paul knew that when he saw souls in heaven for eternity because of his faithful labor – all the pain would be forgotten forever. The aches and bruises of this life would seem laughable in the light of the prize!
I have to tell you, when I got to the finish of the race last Sunday, and walked down the little finish chutes they had set up, and came to a young first lieutenant, it was such a thrill– the soreness in my legs vanished – the months of effort melted into joy. But as I took off my hat and allowed him to place that medal around my neck my mind flashed to THAT Day – I’m sure it was because we’ve been talking about it so much for these weeks – and I realized that I want to do my best for Jesus! I want to work harder, struggle longer, battle the enemy more effectively, advance the kingdom of God further and further, and reach more people for Him – not only because I want to get a prize, but because I want them to get a prize with me! I want them to know the incredible joy of receiving eternal rewards – glorified bodies, and to be able to live in the joy of the Lord. I want everyone I meet to know the joy of the Prize.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to run after the prize. Help us to move beyond the talk, to strap on the gear, to find a partner, endure the struggle, and run for the prize. Lord Jesus, we want to stand before You on THE Day and be able to present to you lives that we have lived faithfully for you. We want to live in such a way that we will hear you say to us, “Well done! Good and faithful servant.” But it won’t happen accidentally, or automatically. Help us to live this day, and each day, purposefully, with that day in mind. Empower us by Your Spirit, Challenge us by Your word, encourage us through your body, the church, to run to You, our prize. We pray this in Your precious, holy name, Amen.