In Ancient Rome, running was the oldest and most important Olympic sport. I’m sure since Paul was a Roman, he saw many races before he came to Christ. Paul used races to explain a Christians’s journey in life unto our final destination, which is eternal life with Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
So if you want eternal life you must continue in the race to the end of your life.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Matthews 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul taught that everything in his past life was nothing but dung so he could win Christ. That should be all Christians mindset.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
Click here to read more at: transformedbythetruth.com