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Strive Lawfully (2 Tim. 2:5) Paul uses the image of an athlete competing in games when considering the work of Christian and an evangelist. These ideas are brought back to mind with the current news concerning Lance Armstrong loosing his medals and honor because he did not strive lawfully. Are we lawfully running the race? |
Strive Lawfully (2 Tim. 2:5)
Paul uses the image of an athlete competing in games when considering the work of Christian and an evangelist. These ideas are brought back to mind with the current news concerning Lance Armstrong loosing his medals and honor because he did not strive lawfully. Are we lawfully running the race?
1. Lawfully Enter The Race—As with every race there is a procedure to enter; we start this race by being baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27). Entrance can only come by being in Christ (Acts 4:12; John 14:6, 10:1, 9; Matt. 28:18). Sadly there are those running who did not first enter and have no claim to the prize (Matt. 7:22-23).
2. Lawfully Run The Race—But entering the race is just the beginning, it then must be run (1 Cor. 9:24-267). There are no lawful shortcuts cheats that can be taken. A path has been set for our run (1 John 1:5; 1 Pet. 2:21; Matt. 7:13-14) and others have successfully completed it (Heb. 12:1-3).
3. Lawfully Complete The Race—We cannot stop short, but rather we must finish the race. Again there will be those that gave great effort but gave up before the end (Rev. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; 2 Pet. 2:20-22; Heb. 4:1, 9-11). Let us stand fast to the end and reap our reward (1 Cor. 15:58).
