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On
Your Marks, Get Set, Go! 31 October 1999 CAPTAIN ALISTAIR VENTER Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-8
INTRODUCTION: I don’t know how many of you are really fit? Some are fit to drop, others can really show us a thing a two with their stamina. The Bible tells us that physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. The Living Bible says; "Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all of you. So exercise yourself spiritually, and practice being a better Christian because that will help you not only now in this life, but in the next life too. It seems that rugby was not a known sport in Paul’s day, Paul makes a lot of use of life as being like a race, and in about 6 of his letters, he makes reference to the race in which he is involved, and in which you are I should be involved in as well. How many of you like to sit in front of the TV on Comrades day and watch these poor athletes running kilo after kilo, and seeing some of them barely managing to reach the finishing line? I have often thought of the idea of entering that race, and being able to sail over the finishing line and receiving a silver or gold metal. I have tried to imagine the thrill of having that kind of achievement behind me, and what joy and satisfaction that would bring me. Then on the other hand, I run around the block, and I am so breathless and stiff that it takes me a week to recover. But the dream of being able to run in the comrades is still there! But before I ever think of running the comrades, what do I have to do?
If I want to be able to run in the race, I have to join a club in order to be able to qualify. In just the same way, if I want to run the Christian race, I have to do something more than just fantasize about being involved. We are told in Hebrews 12:1 that "the race is marked out for us". The course has been set. God has a set plan for your life and for mine. He has each and every milestone marked out – and in order to be able to qualify, I must join the club. In other words, I must take that first, decisive step in asking Jesus to come into my life, forgive me from my sin, and to enable me to become one of His team. I want to tell you as well that it costs to join the club. First of all, there is the commitment that is involved. I have to commit myself to enter a certain amount of races, I have to buy the takkies, the club vest or whatever, I have to pay the membership fees… and I am sure that there are all other kinds of hidden costs involved. To become a Christian, membership is free. I can become a Christian by simply asking Jesus to come into my life, and salvation is free. But, I have to then commit myself to the Christian way of life. Romans 12:1 tells me that I have to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. I have to no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but I have to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. That is one mighty big commitment. But I also have a responsibility to acquire the right togs. The kind of togs I need for my Christian race are probably very different to the ones I would need for an ordinary running race. But listen to the togs I need: Ephesians 6:10ff
Those are the basics that I need in order to start running the Christian race. And I want to tell you that that kit that I have just mentioned is issued to you by God Himself. Without it, you are going to find life very difficult to run. In fact, if you enter the Christian race without the right togs, you are doomed to failure. You will give up before the first qualifying race even starts! Once you have joined the club, what do you need to do before you actually get to cross over the finishing line of the Comrades, and receive your silver or gold medal? To prepare for any race takes a lot of hard work – lots of sweat, effort, tears, pain – you name it. Let us listen to what Paul, the expert, tells us about his race. "You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition! I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself ." 1 Cor 9:25-27 (Eugene Peterson’s Message)Paul’s training in the race took a lot out of him. He says in 2 Cor 4:8 onwards: " We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralised; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorised, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us – trial and torture, mockery and murder….."But even although Paul had all these problems in the race of life, he still said: " I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me…" (Acts 20:24)No one must ever tell me that running the Christian race is an easy task. In fact, I get very annoyed when some people stand up and invite people to become Christians, and tell them that when they come to Christ, all their problems will be over. That is not true. Jesus did not preach that. He never tried to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes in that regard. But the big thing is that with him as our trainer, as our coach, he shows us how we should do things, he very often does those training exercises with us. Now want to say that in training athletes often get hurt. Maybe if the shoes are not right, they could get blisters. Sometimes muscles get torn, and they have to just sit out for short while until healing takes place. Sometimes they fall. You will remember the famous incident that happened once when Zola Bud and Mary Decker were running neck on neck, and Mary Decker fell. But she was able to make a come back. Because she fell did not mean that she ceased being an athlete. At the next race, she was there. Many athletes suffer from exhaustion, fatigue – but they persevere. If men and women and willing to go to such lengths in the world for medals that don’t really last – how much more should we not be willing to endure all things for the sake of Christ. "Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all of you." That is what the Bible says. Let us not throw in the towel when the going gets tough. Another thing that is vital for the athlete is the diet that he has. Special carbo loading is needed. He will not pig out on things that will not be good for him and which could hinder his chances in the race. You know, I have seen too many Christians crashing because they have not been careful about their "diet". It was Jesus who said: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God". We need to feast on the word of God. Some people become so obsessed with the wrong kind of things, and they feed their minds on that. Just to mention a few – pornography, false teaching, new age stuff, horoscopes, some of these weird and wonderful music pop groups with the strangest of words. In fact, we can even become so bogged down by certain behavioral patterns that we try to fit into those, instead of being open to the way the Lord wants to lead us. Training for the race that God has set before us is beset with many obstacles – but I want to say just one thing to you: Paul wrote to the Galatian Christians out of concern for them. It seems that there was a hitch in their race. Things weren’t going so well. He said to them: "You were running superbly. Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour does not come from the One who called you in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as being insignificant…… the one who is upsetting you, whoever it is, will bear the divine judgement". (Galatians 5:7ff)Satan will come along and do his level best to place obstacles in your way. He will make it so hard for you that you will face times when you ask: "Is it all worth it?" I have considered giving up sometimes when things have got really tough, when the pain of training becomes too hard to cope with. But you know, we have to weigh up the odds here. It is what I said this morning in my message that we not human beings having a brief spiritual encounter, we are spiritual beings having a brief human sinful encounter. The race that we run here on this earth is one fraction of the whole of eternity – and if in this race I have to endure intense hardship – I must not give up. In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul realised that he was coming to the end of his life. He wrote to the young Timothy saying: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all those who have longed for his appearing."In the Message, Paul says; "This is the only race worth running!"
CONCLUSION: On Comrades Day, the stadium is packed with people cheering, applauding as the runners stumble across the finishing line. Some athletes have to be carried by their fellow competitors, but through that support, others are able to be brought across the finishing line. That must be such an incredible experience for those who have been slogging it out for so many hours in the heat of the day. If they are lucky, they are awarded a gold, silver, or bronze medal. In the Christian race of life, our reward is far greater. Yes, there will be thousands of other believers cheering and encouraging us as we cross the finishing line. But then there will be Jesus, and he will be there to welcome us home. We will hear his voice saying; "Well done, good and faithful servant, good and faithful athlete – enter into the joy of thy Lord". Man, what a day of rejoicing that will be. What greater achievement can anyone ever hope for? BUT, before we get there, we have to "Join the Club", we have to "Do the training", and there can never be any thought of "Giving up". I don’t know at what stage you are at in your race. Maybe you still need to join the club – come to Christ and start running the race that is set before you. Maybe I am speaking to people who are finding that the training is just too stressful. Maybe there are those who are hurting, have injuries that seem to be taking an eternity to heal. Maybe there are those who are wondering if it is all worth while. Paul said: "This is the only race worth running". May I say tonight that we need to maybe all make a fresh start in the race. I would like to be the one who fires the gun. On your marks, get set….GO! |