Man’s Race Toward Eternal Life:
The Olympic games are the world’s foremost amateur sports competition, first celebrated in 776 B.C. at Olympia Greece. The games were held until 393 A.D., until abolished by the Roman emperor Theodosius 1, this after Greece had lost its independence. The Olympic game’s were again revived in 1896.
The games started with a single event, that being a footrace the length of the stadium. Additional races were eventually added. These followed by the discus throws, javelin throws, long jump, boxing, wrestling, etc. The games were held in honor of the Greek gods, and war heroes of the Greeks. Both the politicians and statesmen mingled with the athletes, some even competing.
The victorious athletes were crowned with a wreath of laurel, being praised and honored in the presence of their countrymen as multitudes filled the coliseum. The public adored them, and the poets wrote about them. The victors returned to their homes in chariot, entering the city through a wall which had been broken through to admit them. The citizens reasoned that the walls of a city were of no use when the city was defended by these men of courage, skill and great abilities.
The design of the promoters and organizers of these games was to prepare the youth in the use their natural abilities, and strengths. Their skills were honed for speed events, and certain strength contests. Specialized training would help to improved their strength, vigor and stamina. The intense training was to prepare them for the competition that lay ahead, rendering them fit, competitive and motivated.
Paul’s references to the organizers of the games and to the games themselves was calculated to reach the hearts of the Greeks and others who were familiar with the games. Paul’s comparison of the Olympiads to the Christian walk was to place before the eye of a person’s mind, the most accurate images of spiritual and the Divine things of God.
Certain men were appointed judges to take care that the competition were done according to custom. They also decided controversies and determined the prizes that were to be given the victors. Let’s compare this to our Lord, Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author = (originator) and finisher of our faith;”
Christ as the author, or, “Prince-Leader.” The same Greek is translated in,
A. Hebrews 2:10, “To make the Captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings.”
B. Acts 3:15, “The Prince of life.”
Christ always going before us as the Originator of our faith; the Leader, one whose matchless examples Christians are to follow. As the author, Christ is set apart from all others of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, that the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, etc. Great as they are, we are not to put our trust in these great patriarchs, only in Christ Jesus.
C. Hebrews 2:13, “I will put my trust in Him = (Jesus.) ”
D. Hebrews 3:2, “Who was faithful to him = (the Father) that appointed Him.” So we are to put our trust in Jesus, as He put His trust in the Father.
Hebrews 11:40, “God (the Father) having provided some better thing for us, = (faith in His Son, and not in the law, or the sacrifices of the law) that they without us, = (or apart from us) should not be made perfect = (complete.)”
Jesus fulfilled the ideal of faith Himself, and so as a delegated offering and example, He is, the object of our faith.
The athletes who were to compete in the games were to report to the public gymnasium at Elis Greece, ten months before the ceremony began. Here they would prepare themselves for the competition. If a man did not report, regardless of his reason or excuse, he would be rejected. If a man was a criminal or related to one, he also was not allowed to compete. Also if ant person was convicted of bribing one of the athletes, a heavy fine was put upon him.
The athletes were to swear they had spent ten months in their preparation for these games. The fathers and brothers of the athletes had to take a solemn oath that they would not try to stop the proceedings of the games.
Let’s compare this to our spiritual contest:
The aim of a Christian to obtain a heavenly crown, has its’ established rules. These rules have been devised and are enacted upon by God. They require the implicit and exact submission of it’s people, yielding neither to the times or circumstances of men or the ages; rather they have maintain their authority from age to age, uninterrupted, and unimpaired.
Those who violate these rules forfeit their prize, and would be driven from the field in disgrace, their reward being everlasting grief and sorrow. Paul exhorts Timothy to strictly observe the precepts of the Gospel. No person can hope to obtain the approval of God and the possession of their heavenly crown, anymore than an athlete would in the public games of Greece if he disregards the established rules.
2 Timothy 2:5 says, “If a man also strive = (competes) for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”
Paul hints that there was this peculiar circumstance accompanying the Christian contest. The person who proclaimed God’s laws and the His rewards to others, was also to engage in the obedience of the laws himself. If not, that person would suffer a total loss and disgrace of any inheritance and rewards that would have been forthcoming.
1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul wrote, “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 = (disqualified.)”
The athletes took great care to remove from their bodies any articles that could or would hinder them. Going into the race, they carried as little weight as possible, stripping them of any clothing, so as not entangle themselves, or hinder them in any way. Compare this with,
Hebrews 12:1, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset = (ensnares) us.”
In the exercise of faith and self-denial, the Christian must, as stated in Rom.13:12, “Cast off the works of darkness.” That is to say, we are to lay aside all malice and guile, hypocrisies, and envyings, evil-speakings, inordinate affections, the cares of the world, and whatever else might obstruct our profession, depress our spirit, or slow our progress.
The foot race, or as we call it today, the sprint, was the distance of the length of the stadium, or about 200 yards. The ancient Olympiads were opened with this 200 yard race. It was organized with great care, being highly rated by the public. Paul uses this language when speaking of the Christian’s course, or race,
Hebrews 12:1, “let us run with patience = (perseverance) the race that is set before us,”
Further, Hebrews 12:1, “we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” The stadium floor where the athletics competed was surrounded by seats; seats upon which the many spectators coming from all parts of Greece witnesses and cheered. We Christians are also compassed about by many witnesses.
This image of competition with its’ crowds of witnesses, is the same image used in describing our Christian endeavor. Who are the great crowd of witnesses? and to what do they witness?
The witnesses of the Olympics answer to the spectators pressing in to see the competition.
Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the mark = (goal) for the prize of the high = (upward) calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
These witnesses are spoken of in, Hebrews 11, people like, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc., but also extends to all believers who have died and gone on to be with the Lord.
They in their turn have become “witnesses” in two ways.
1. These Old Testament saints are Called to the faithfulness of God through the passages of Scripture, this of His people, many having been martyred.
Hebrews 6:12, “Ye be not slothful, = (sluggish) but followers = (imitators) of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” = (God’s promises)
2. These shall witness to our struggle in the faith. This second sense agrees with the image of witnesses here, but is not sustained by the Scripture. It gives vividness to the image; as the crowd of spectators gave additional encouragement to the athletes, so the cloud of witnesses who have themselves been in the same contest we now participate in, will encourage us by testifying through Scripture the faithfulness of the living God.
The stadium was marked off in three areas. The entrance had a line drawn in the sand, having a cord strung from one side to the other. When the cord was dropped, this was a signal for the athletes to start. Set in the middle of the stadium were the prizes allotted to the winners.
From the start of the race to the middle of the race, the athletes could see the prize, this giving them encouragement. However as they ran past the rewards, keeping them in mind, the athletes now looked forward to the finish line. This was marked off at the end of the stadium. In the last half of the race, anyone who had looked back at the prizes would lose because they would have lost their focus on the finish line.
Paul gives this similar view of the Christian life.
Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended = (laid hold of) but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind = (the prizes in the middle of the stadium,) and reaching forth = (toward the finish line) unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark = (goal) for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Besides the applause of the crowd, there were the honors and rewards that awaited the winners. The victor’s success was instantly followed by repeated and continued applause and praise. But this was only a prelude to the appointed rewards, which were accounted the highest honor to which a person could aspire.
The rewards had little material value, consisted of various wreaths woven of wild olive, pine, parsley, or laurel branches. After the judge’s announcement of a winner, a public herald would proclaimed the name of the winner. A crown would then be placed on his head, and the branch of palm given in his right hand.
The victor would carry with him his rewards as a token of victory. Because of other contests he may have participated in, he may having received other crowns and palms. He would then be conducted through the stadium, his name and country being proclaimed. This was the victor’s reward.
The crowns received by the winners of the Olympics would soon dry out and crumbled, but compare this to a Christian’s crown.
1 Corinthians 9:25, “They = (the athletes) do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we (Christians) an incorruptible.” The Christian is called to fight the good fight of faith, and to lay hold of eternal life. For this reason, the Christian is more powerfully stimulated by considering the following.
The ancient athlete took all this care for preparation, and the pains of training, only for the sake of obtaining a garland of flowers or a wreath of laurel, which soon fades and perishes. Their hard work and training only served to feed their pride and vanity.
The spiritual race is however different. That which is placed in view of the spiritual athlete, the thing which gives life to our efforts and the rewards for our labors will be far superior then a crown of laurel. It is a crown of glory, one which never fades or perishes.
A. 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”
B. 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd = (Jesus) shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
When the victor remained doubtful, the number of athletes who appeared before the judges to claim the prize would be many. The losers would be rejected by the judges because they had not obeyed the rules of the games. These were called in the Greek, “adokimor” or disapproved, which is rendered in the English, “castaways.”
Paul again alludes to this in,
1 Corinthians “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 cast away,” Don’t be rejected by the Judge of the earth, and disappointed for not receiving your expected crown.
Before Timothy was martyred, he beautifully alludes to the above mentioned race, to the crown that waits for the victor, and to the judges who bestowed the prizes.
2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, (race) I have kept the faith: Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com