The hymn writer John H. Yates said, “Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! Oh, glorious victory, that overcomes the world.” In athletics, many things are touted as helping win the victory, from sports drinks to athletic wear. But can that NIKE swoosh really do anything? There is only one thing that can help us acquire victory in any area of our life, and it’s called faith.
In life there are going to be times when we feel discouraged, and like we want to give up. Some of the things we face might feel like running a marathon when we’ve never run a mile in our life. We might feel this way about our New Year’s resolutions, or even our walk with the Lord. But having faith can keep us pushing ahead.
In the book of Hebrews, we read that “faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is putting our hope in something that’s out there ahead of us that might not yet be a present reality. Having faith is like setting goals, and having goals will lead us toward victory. 1 John 5:4 says, “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.” According to the Bible, faith brings about an overcoming victory.
If we want to succeed in whatever we face, including our New Year’s resolutions, then we’d better have on our NIKE gear; and I’m not trying to be funny. The Greek word for “victory” in 1 John 5:4 is nike, pronounced (nee kay). Our faith and the goals we set will lead us to experience NIKE. We can achieve victory!
We’re going to see how having faith, and setting goals, can help us to overcome in the face of difficulties and challenges; both in our New Year’s resolutions and in everyday life. With this understanding in mind, let us now stand in honor of God’s Word, as we read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27:
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
In verse 24, Paul said, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” When we look at verse 24, it speaks of running in a race. This is a reference to athletic games, similar to our modern-day Olympic games.
Every two years outside [the ancient city of] Corinth there were famous Olympic-type games, called the Isthmian Games. They had all the events that our Olympics would have: boxing, wrestling, and all kinds of different foot races. The winners of these events were given a wreath or crown to wear on their heads. It was woven of either pine boughs or olive branches.
The value of the prize was not monetary but symbolic, and the prize for Paul was a sense of delight that he was being used by God in ministry, knowing that he had used all his energies and talents and gifts to God's glory . . . That's what Paul lived for. He described that prize in Philippians 3:14. He said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”(1)
Did you happen catch that key word “goal,” which I emphasized? Whatever we’re facing, let us put on our NIKE gear; or rather, let us keep our focus on the goals that we’ve set and remember the things that motivate us, and keep our eyes on the prize. Let us run to receive our crown.
In verse 25, Paul went on to say, “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.” The New International Version says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.” Paul makes it clear in verse 25 that winning requires intense training and discipline.
“The word ‘compete’ that he uses is the Greek word for ‘agony.’ It points to the tremendous effort that was put forth to win.”(2) Athletes today endure much pain and effort in preparing for the Olympics. They train for four difficult years. This information tells us that if we will stay motivated and dedicated, and be persistent in our physical, mental or spiritual training, then our efforts will pay off in receiving the prize.
Paul also observed in verse 25, “Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” I already noted that athletes undergo strict training in their preparation for the Olympics. So, what is their reason for subjecting themselves to such agony? They do all of this for a crown that will fade away. They seek glory in the eyes of men. But Paul, on the other hand, endured much agony in order to obtain an imperishable and eternal crown.
This should provide encouragement for us this New Year’s and in our daily walk with God. If we make a resolution for Christ and find it hard to keep, just remember that we are not experiencing agony for nothing. Our efforts will result in an everlasting prize, if we run the race until it is completed. We are not seeking glory in the eyes of men, but in the eyes of God.
Isn’t it strange though, how much people will do for the glory of man? Just consider how many people participate in sports and attend athletic events, but will not attend church. The Bible asks, “What profit is it to gain the glory of men, and lose one’s soul?” As believers, let us strive not for the approval of men, but for the favor of God.
In verse 26, Paul said, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” Verse 26 makes the point that we shouldn’t practice without having a goal. Paul said that he did not run without having a reason to run. Why run if you cannot obtain a prize? Haven’t you noticed that many professional athletes give up participating in their sport after their career is over? They have no more reason to continue if they cannot win a prize. You see, the prize was their goal which kept them going.
Paul asked why in the world would someone fight if they are just going to beat or swing at the air? What’s the point of shadow boxing if you are never going to fight? Whatever sport we choose to participate in, or whatever resolution we choose to make, let us not just go through the motions. We need to set a goal before us. In any race that we run, we should aim for the finish line. Be careful about starting something without having the goal of finishing.
Allow me to share another insight: There’s the story of a man who approached a laborer who was laying bricks and asked him, “What are you doing?” The laborer said, “Can’t you see I’m laying bricks?” The man then walked over to another bricklayer and asked, “What are you doing?” And the workman answered with pride, “I’m building a cathedral.” Both were physically doing the same thing, but the first laborer was occupied with the present task, and the other was concerned with the ultimate goal.(3)
Too many times we focus more on the task at hand than the outcome. If we fail to keep the finish line in sight, and if we fail to remain motivated by our goals, then we will become bogged down in what we are presently doing and possibly give up. So, let’s be sure to keep our focus on the prize.
In verse 27, Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” Without discipline, we’re certain to fail. An athlete’s strength comes from discipline and intense training. I want to share with you the true story about the strength of the first marathon runner, which just happens to be where the NIKE Company gets its name.
The battle of Marathon was fought around 490 B.C. when king Darius launched an attack on Athens. Since the surrounding city-states would offer little support to the Athenians, the Athenians were outnumbered by the Persians. Although the Athenians were outnumbered, they caught the Persians by surprise by running the full length of the plain [of Marathon] and catching the Persians unorganized.
The Athenians were able to defeat the Persians by not only striking from the front, but they also flanked the Persian army from the sides. Because of this sudden attack the Persian troops broke ranks and fled back to their ships.
Since the Athenians won, they wanted to send word back to Athens to tell of victory, and to warn them so the city could prepare for the Persian fleet attack from the sea. So Miltiades sent his best runner Pheidippides to take word to Athens. He ran the whole distance, about 26 miles, and when he arrived he was able to say one word . . . and then he died.(4)
What was the one word that Pheidippides was able to declare before he died? It was Nike! He cried aloud “victory!” This lone Athenian ran the whole distance of the plain of Marathon, which is some 26 miles – and he had already run this distance once that day, and fought in a battle. This could not have been accomplished without hard training and discipline.
Time of Reflection
Hebrews 12:1 says, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
If you make a New Year’s resolution; or better yet, if you make a commitment to follow Christ more closely this year, be sure that your goals lead to an eternal prize, and not just some temporary, earthly benefit. Be certain to keep your head above the clouds and refuse to become bogged down in the day to day routine. Discipline yourself so that you will have the strength of endurance to reach the finish line. These are keys to success if we uphold them.
1 John 5:4 says, “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” The key to success is our faith in the Lord. In Isaiah 40:31, the Lord promises that faith in Him will lead to victory. He declares, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Now that’s what you call NIKE air!
If you want to have God’s NIKE gear on then have faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to achieve victory in your New Year’s resolutions or in any area of life, then trust in the Lord. Better yet, if you want to cross over the finish line into heaven one day, and have victory over sin and death, then trust in Jesus Christ.
You must have faith in Jesus in order to have victory. I want to invite anyone who has never had victory in Jesus to make a commitment to Him this very day by making Him your Savior and Lord.
NOTES
(1) Doug Goins, The Danger of Disqualification, taken from the Internet in December 1999 at http://pbc.org/dp/goins/4526.html.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Michael P. Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1997), 166.
(4) The Battle of Marathon, taken from the Internet in December 1999 at
http://www.ccs.k12.ia.us/phs/swp/Pospischil/WCIV/Unit%202/student_projects/GREECE%20PER1/greece%20web/marathon.html
