"I love the sense of satisfaction that I get when I’ve done a swimming workout or race, and know that I gave my whole being and heart to God in every moment of the swim. It’s the best worship I can offer him."
The prize - again
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14The Scottish swimmer stood on the rostrum, gold medal round her neck. As “Flower of Scotland” rang out around the pool she sang heartily. Then in a moment captured on the big screen, the emotion got to her. She could no longer sing. There was tear in her eye as – I guess – the enormity of the moment got to her.
This was her reward not just for 2 minutes in the pool that day but for all those hours of swimming endless lengths of a lonely swimming pool. All the 5.00am alarms to get to the pool before it opened to the public. The faithfulness of putting in the work when only you know if you are shirking. How richly she deserved her reward.
Paul reminds us that there is a day coming when we will stand on that heavenly rostrum and get our reward – not a reward that we have earned by our efforts or our own righteousness. No, ours is a reward based on what Jesus has done for us.
As sportspeople we understand “the prize”. It may be what motivates us to get out of bed in the morning or to do that extra rep in training. I am struck when I interview athletes how often people remember in great detail the first prize they ever won. Prizes matter. At whatever level you compete, winning the prize matters.
It takes effort to win the prize. Paul talks about pressing on. The phrase has a sense of effort, of straining, of putting in effort. How often prizes are won at the last minute?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t find it easy to be a Christian. It is a battle. As I struggle to keep the faith and to finish the race, the prospect of the crown of righteousness is a massive encouragement.
Just as many an athlete has been motivated on a winter morning to get out of bed and train by the prospect of the gold medal, so let us be motivated to be faithful today by the promise of what a loving Father has prepared for us – and it’s OK to have a tear in your eye as you think about it.