Running to Win the Prize

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

Athletics is a vivid picture of the Christian life. In fact, the apostle Paul often made athletics an analogy of our spiritual walk to demonstrate important truths pertaining to life and faith. In this analogy, the runner would illustrate the Christian, and the runner’s race would illustrate the Christian life. For just as the runner runs the race to win the prize, so does the Christian live to attain a goal.

Putting into perspective the Christian life as a race, it completely eradicates the idea of living aimlessly, sloppily, and stagnantly. Too often, we live indifferent to the fact that there is a finish line we should be running towards. And as a result of this, we sadly lack the required intention, diligence, and consistency to live according to the purpose to which God has called us to. So how then, are we called to live?

Just as the runner sets his mind and body to run the race to win the prize, so must the Christian focus his will and life to pursuing Christ, the true and greatest prize of all. For although God has made us new in Christ, He will not stop His work in our lives at that point. It is not that God only wants us to be made new in Christ, but that God also purposes to perfect us in Christ.

To be perfected in Christ - what does that actually mean? It simply means to grow in Christ’s likeness.

Dear believer, there is no greater humbling and blessed privilege for us, as children of God, than to grow in our knowledge, experience, and display of Christ. For how could it be that those who once wretchedly turned away from God, be given God’s very own Son to reconcile them back to God and be given God’s gracious invitation to display the transforming work of His Son in their lives? Believer, may the truth of the gospel always motivate you to make Christ your life’s greatest pursuit.