Running like an Athlete
Christianity is not a hobby. It is not a social outlet or a routine of tradition. Christianity is union with God the Father and a relationship that endures tests. I have seen many people abandon their faith because times get hard. People lay down their faith and pick it back up again like they do with dieting fads. Christianity is not a way for self-made success. Success will come as we seek to please our Savior by loving Him in our choices.
2 Timothy 2:3-6 really puts things in perspective. Verse 5 says, “Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.” The Bible is letting us know that our decision to follow Christ is like an athlete who has entered into a great contest. An athlete is someone who trains in a certain set of skills in order to perform better than an opponent. He is someone who practices over and over and expects to get stronger over the course of time.
First of all, an athlete doesn’t resent the rules of the game. He knows that he can’t change the rules so he performs within those rules to gain a reward. Today, Christians don’t like the rules so they try to bend them. They don’t think the principles of faith and judgment pertain to them. They think they can live a half commitment to the Lord and expect to be rewarded. That’s not true. Christians today have bought into the deception that the “institution” of church isn’t necessary. That’s a lie. You cannot love God and despise His children. The principle of the local church is not something you can overlook and still consider yourself faithful. The Bible calls the Church the “pillar of truth”, “church of the firstborn”, “Mount Zion”, “vineyard”, and the “candlestick”. God has invested the salvation of humanity into His Church. If you are without fellowship in a local church you are what the Bible calls “illegitimate”. (Heb 12:8)
An athlete understands that he is performing against an adversary but he also understands that he is performing against a clock. An athlete understands that when the final whistle blows, his performance is over. He doesn’t have the luxury of being lazy forever. If the buzzer sounds and he is behind, he loses. There will be no added time. Understand this: The buzzer is about to sound. The return of Christ is getting ever so near. When the trumpet sounds and Christ appears in the eastern sky, you will have no more time to get things right. We are to live this life like we are in sudden death overtime. There should be urgency in the faith of every believer.
Don’t get discouraged by trials. An athlete knows that every competition is another opportunity to use what he practiced. Failure is not an option for an athlete. We all face times when we feel we are becoming sluggish in spiritual things. When this happens, it’s time to pick up the knees and run hard again. Every athlete is finish line minded. Anyone can begin a race. But only those that cross the finish line receive the reward of their endurance.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
