The Greatest Runner Ii Series

Races were one of the chief attractions of the ancient world. Large crowds

would come together to watch athletes display their skills in running. The New

Testament compares the Christian life to a race because many of the same

virtues that made a great runner are essential for becoming a great Christian.

Like a great runner, the Christian needs to discipline his body and his mind. He

needs to prepare and practice, and he needs to learn to endure and persevere to

the end. The Christian is running for the glory of God, and so it is important

that he run well and give a good testimony for his sponsor. We are to do all that

we do on the highest level of our capability, for we are to aim to win, and this

calls for the full dedication of our lives.

We are expected to be winners. Paul wrote in I Cor. 9:24, “Do you not know

that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a

way as to get the prize.” The word for run here, and in our text, and in 16 other

places in the New Testament is the Greek word trecho. This was the word used

to describe the greatest heroes of Greek culture, for they were the winners in

the Olympics. They were the Greeks idea of the ideal of humanity. This word is

used in the Greek Old Testament to describe the amazing run of Elijah in I

Kings 18:46 where he outran the chariot of Ahab. It was a supernatural run.

The verse says, “The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his

cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.” The word is

used in the Old Testament for running in warfare, and to bring good news. In

II Sam. 18:19 we read, “Now Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, let me run and take

the news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his

enemies.”

Running played a role in the ministry of the Prophets, for they were to run

with the message of God. It was a way of saying the message was important and

urgent. Hab. 2:2 says, “Then the Lord replied: ‘Write down the revelation and

make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.’” God wants His word

to move fast and get to people in time. We read in Psalm 147:15, “He sends his

command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.” It is God’s will that we run

swiftly in obedience. Psalm 119:32 says, “I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free.” We are all to be runners for God, and this

means prompt obedience and a sense of urgency to get His message to others.

We are not just running to win a race for self-glory, but to make a difference in

the lives of other by example, and by getting the Word of God to them.

Running takes in the whole of what it means to live a life of obedience to God.

That is why Paul used the word trecho so often. Beside the I Cor. 9:24

quoted above, he also wrote in I Cor. 9:25-27, “Everyone who competes in the

games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but

we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man

running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body

and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not

be disqualified for the prize.” In Gal. 2:2 he wrote, “I went in response to a

revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But

I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was

running or had run my race in vain.” Then in Gal. 5:7 he wrote, “You; were

running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”

He uses trecho again in writing to the Philippians in 2:16, “As you hold out

the word of life-in order that I may boast on; the day of Christ that I did not

run or labor for nothing.” It is clear that Paul saw his whole ministry and life

service as a race, and his goal was to run it well and be a winner. He expected

all believers to do the same, and run the race with their eyes on Jesus. All of

his letters were designed to encourage believers in the race. He joined the host