The Christian Race - Revised
DAY SIX
PONDER THIS ENGRAVING
MEDITATE ON THESE VERSES
1 Corinthians 9:25 | Hebrews 12:1 | 2 Timothy 4:7 | Matthew 10:22 | Hebrews 3:14 | Luke 13:25 | Hebrews 12:2 | 2 Timothy 2:2
So run that ye may obtain. 1 Corinthians 9:24
POETIC REFLECTION
Look! The race before us clearly lies—
See many running toward the promised prize.
Some strive and strain, yet all their effort spent,
Leads to small progress, fading with lament.
Weighed down by worries, riches, pride, and fear,
They run awhile, then quit when trials appear.
But one breaks free, his pace like rushing wind,
He leaves the hesitant and weak behind.
He plays by truth—drops every heavy load,
And runs with purpose toward the victor’s gold.
DEVOTION OF INTERPRETATION
When writing to the early church, the Apostle Paul often used metaphors from the Olympic games—well-known athletic events celebrated throughout ancient Greece. One of the most famous gatherings took place on the Isthmus of Corinth, known as the Isthmian Games, held near the river Alpheus by the city of Olympia. These events were so significant that they formed a new way of marking time, just as we now mark years from the birth of Christ. Each "Olympiad" spanned four years, and dates were measured by what year they fell in during that cycle. The first Olympiad began in 776 BC.
The games included five main events: boxing, wrestling, long jump, discus, and foot racing. It’s the race—the running event—that Paul often drew from. It captivated the crowds. To even qualify as a runner, a man had to be of good moral character and commit to ten months of rigorous training according to strict rules.
The preparation was intense. Competitors followed a disciplined regimen: bland food, no indulgences, no shortcuts. Training continued regardless of the weather or discomfort. Finally, the long-awaited day would arrive. A judge—sworn to be impartial—took his place at the finish line, holding the victor’s crown of olive or laurel. The city would empty to witness the spectacle. Officers kept the grounds in order. All eyes turned to the starting line.
The runners emerged, stripped of unnecessary garments—sometimes completely unclothed—ready for the signal. At the sound, they were off. The crowd fell silent. Every eye watched them push forward. Then came the cheer—the victor returned in glory, riding in a chariot, crowned and celebrated by the people as a hero.
Paul compares the life of faith to this kind of race. The racecourse represents the path of spiritual growth and obedience, stretching from this world to eternity. The runners are those who follow Christ. The officers who maintain order? They are the ministers of the Gospel. The spectators include both heaven and earth. The judge—Jesus Himself. And the reward? A crown of righteousness.
Imagine a group of young believers just beginning their journey. They start together, following the same instructions. There are four key rules:
Let go of everything that weighs you down.
Leave behind the sin that so easily trips you up.
Run with endurance.
Fix your eyes on Jesus.
At first, they’re keeping pace. But over time, some begin to fall back. One is burdened with too much “weight”—distractions, priorities that don't align with the race. Another stumbles and gives in to the sin they never fully surrendered. A third stops altogether—they’ve lost patience, with God, with themselves, with everyone.
But some press on. They follow the instructions. They endure. And they finish.
In the Greek games, only one winner took the prize. In the race of faith, anyone who runs well can win. Earthly judges can be flawed. But our Judge is perfectly just. And while ancient victors received a wreath that would soon wither, the believer receives an eternal crown—one that never fades.
The Christian Race–revised version. Re-written by Father Media Group, in modern language, inspired by the original works of Barber, John Warner, 1798-1885. Bible Looking Glass: Reflector, Companion and Guide to the Great Truths of the Sacred Scriptures, and Illustrating the Diversities of Human Character, and the Qualities of the Human Heart.
Philadelphia, Bradley, Garretson & Co., 1861