The Run of Your Life

David Salvatelli
November 12, 2009
Filed under Commentary

 “Life is a marathon – not a sprint.” No doubt you’ve heard this phrase before, and quite likely even used it to encourage someone to embrace a journey or a challenge that is longer and tougher than they’d expected. But according to 1 Corinthians 9, life and its challenges are less about distance than discipline:

“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. I run with purpose in every step… I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. ” –1 Corinthians 9:25-27.

Do the work – physically, mentally and most of all spiritually – even when you don’t feel like it. Rise up early and hit the road – physically – and study His Word – spiritually, especially when you’re not in the mood. Rest up – physically – and rest in God – spiritually – when you’re hurting, even if you’re tempted to work out – physically – and fix things in your own strength – spiritually.

 “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” –1  Corinthians 9:24

What does it mean to “run to win”? Simply, it means you must put in the training beforehand – that’s what differentiates the one who runs from the one who wins. Race day is simply the result of preparation, the day you find out what you can do after you’ve done the training. Metaphorically it is the day you stand before God and give an account of how you did – or didn’t do – to get there.

So train well and finish strong: because whether your distance is a hundred-yard sprint or a 26.2 mile marathon, how you cross the finish line depends on the time and effort you put in during training.

 
David Salvatelli is the director of advancement and has been committed to the mission of CCA since its inception. If you have any questions about CCA or this Commentary, please contact him at davids@ccaeagles.org or 954-315-4330.