The Painted New Testament预览

Finishing Strong
by Dave Yauk 

Paul speaks of Christian faith like it is a race, and not just any ole’ sprint, but a marathon.

Listen to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27;

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Consider how Paul’s audience would have heard this. They knew, that to be a Greco-Roman athlete you had to train in the gymnasium of Elis for 10 months. Professionals would watch your progress and design a routine for you that include Head, Hands, and Heart. For the head, they were given rigorous reading, writing, and study to train their way of thinking and their mental mindset. For their heart they were given a regiment of music to listen to, and for their hands, they were given a rhythm of diet and exercise. It went something like this:

Day One - Prep

Day Two - Intensity

Day Three – Rest

Day Four - Tactics

Consider today as you read and meditate on this painting by Ron Dicianni. Consider the imagery of the Greco Roman competitions. Do you think about spiritual training and holiness this all-inclusively? Paul talks about not “beating the air,” meaning you’re fighting for rewards in the “lower regions” of earth. He talks about the gravity of fighting for higher aims—for kingdom rewards:

• Crowns of Righteousness (2 TIM 4:7-8)
• Incorruptible Crown (1 COR 9:24-25)
• Crown of Life (REV 2:10)
• Crown of Rejoicing (1TH 2:19)
• Crown of Glory (1PT 5:1-4)