Training For The Eternal Prize

 

Training For The Eternal Prize!

 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [a]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 3:13-14)

As the world turns its attention to the 2026 Winter Olympics, we watch athletes who have spent years disciplining their bodies, sharpening their skills, and shaping their minds for a moment that lasts only minutes. Their dedication is inspiring, but Scripture reminds us that the Christian life requires an even greater kind of training. 

Paul writes that believers must “run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24), not with half‑hearted effort but with the focused determination of an Olympian who refuses distraction. 

Just as a figure skater practices thousands of jumps or a skier endures grueling hours on the slopes, the Christian is called to daily discipline—laying aside sin, resisting spiritual laziness, and fixing their eyes on Christ. 

Hebrews 12:1–2 paints the picture vividly: we run our race by throwing off every weight and looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. 

Olympians train for a medal that will one day fade, but we press on toward a prize that is eternal (Philippians 3:14). 

And like Paul, we want to finish our course with the confidence of having “fought the good fight” and “kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). 

The 2026 Winter Olympians remind us that excellence never happens by accident. Their perseverance challenges us to pursue Christ with the same intensity—embracing discipline, enduring hardship, and running with purpose. For in the end, the crown we seek is not placed around our neck for a moment on a podium, but given by the Lord Himself, who welcomes His faithful runners into everlasting joy.

Photo: Gadini - Pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman's Journal

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