Competition

When I was 17, I and another friend of mine took our cars to a drag strip about 20 miles or so from our home. After arriving we entered our cars and the official put them in a class according to the car. When it came my time to drag race down the ¼ mile strip I was excited; I pulled up to the line and watched the lights. Then off the line I came, racing down the strip as fast as my vehicle would go with the fans watching. I crossed the finished line a winner, and on that day I received a trophy for the fastest car in my class.  Now I know that you are excited about hearing my drag strip story but like Paul Harvey always said at the end of his broadcast “now you know the rest of the story.” So I must tell you the rest of the story. Yes, it’s true I took my car to the drag strip and yes, it’s true that I won in my class, and yes, it’s true that I received a trophy. I just didn’t tell everything that went along with what really happened that day. The only reason I won and the only reason I received a trophy was that I was the only car that day racing in my class. It’s always easy to win when there is no competition. That was the only day in my life that I can ever remember that there was no competition. When I went to get a job, there was someone else wanting the same job, that’s competition. When I played baseball there was someone else waiting and wanting to play my position, that’s competition. The Apostle Paul talked about fighting and running a race. Now in both of these events there is a winner but I want you see how Paul talks about these events.

2Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. What I noticed was the ending of this fight. He said that he had fought a good fight, so this means that Paul was definitely in a fight. Then Paul says that he finished his course and that he kept the faith. Now Paul didn’t say that he had won the fight but that he had fought a good fight. Apparently Paul was a winner for he speaks of the crown that the righteous Judge was going to give him; so Paul, unlike I had some competition. Then He talks about a race and runner.

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Paul speaks of a runner laying aside the weight that would hinder them in this race. He then says with that done the runner needs to look at the finish line which is Jesus Christ, but we see the same here. It’s not the winning of the race that’s important. It’s about getting rid of the weight that will hold you back or hinder you from doing your best in the race. It’s not the finish line but the one at the finish line that’s important and that the runner is to have their eyes on.  While drag racing my car it didn’t matter how fast I went down that track or the time it took me to do it, for I was a winner no matter how fast or slow. Paul is telling us that there is a fight and you can fight a good fight or not. You can run a good race or not but just remember that there are going to be some awards so how you fight or run is totally up to you.

1Corinthains 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1Corinthains 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

1Corinthains 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

1Corinthains 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

1Corinthains 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.