What Kind of Christian are you (3)

What Kind of Christian are you (3)

I'd like us to dwell a little while longer on the athletic dimension that Apostle Paul in Timothy 2: 5 brings to bear on our call to be followers of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 9:24 to 27, it is written, 
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 someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The portion of Scripture we need to dwell on begins with the question, "Do you not know ...?"to draw our attention to the importance of knowing that in every "human race" although every participant will run, only one individual will eventually get the most coveted, 1st prize.

As a result of this fact, we are admonished in our "Christian race" to run in such a way as to get the prize of an eternal life of fellowship with God the Father in paradise.

Like the saying, "many roads leads to Rome but only one way leads home!" so also is there only one way to get the heavenward prize that is the portion of every believer.
The heavenward prize God has promised us unlike any ephemeral earthy prize, that is, that will not last or stand the test of time, is eternal, but like every earthly competition, as Christians we must also go into strict training to be able to run the only way God would have us run to attain it.

When Paul spoke about not running like someone running aimlessly as well as not fighting like a boxer beating the air, he was drawing our attention to the truth that running in such a way as to get the prize required focus, a target, an aim that would keep one going no matter the obstacles or distractions, that may try and prevent one from not just finishing but finishing well.

Apart from a singular focus Paul also spoke about subjecting and enslaving his earthly covering, that is his body, with all it's ungodly will and desires to the will of his spirit, which is his true self, that was already being controlled by the Holy Spirit as a Christian.

His Spirit had to be in control of his body which was prone to sin so that after preaching to others, his body would not disqualify him for the prize because of his lack of self-control.

So in summary, in order for a Christian to run in the way God would have him run in, to get the prize, s/he must go into strict training by: 
1. Being focused on Christ, (the Word of God) and the author and finisher of our faith as well as, 
2. Continually subjecting his body to the will of the Holy Spirit by constantly feeding & giving in to the will of the spirit over that of his flesh.