Why So Serious? - 1 Cor. 9:24-27

I do not have to look that far to see the need to be serious about the race we are running. I would almost liken it to more of a sport like 'Running Man", because there are casualties all around. The enemy is constantly on the attack and is out for blood. Some who have run have fallen, some have been mamed and some have never reached the finish line. Paul likened it to an athletic event where one trains to be first; to not only run, but to run well enough to win. We are not running against each other mind you, but rather these are individual races, where the ones we are competing against are more subtle and determined to trip us up. Unfortunatly, many of us run as if we are running in the Special Olympics; believing we are challenged because of our sinful nature. Accepting the lie that we and the world around should just be glad that we are even running at all; we are content with average or even failure. But by the power of God's Spirit we are not disadvantaged athletes, and as far as that sinful nature, well Jesus dealt with that on the cross. We are new creatures in Christ and now we must walk in that, or rather run the race we are in as to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus", (Phil. 3:14). I have come to realize how serious this race is by a current event which is very much a part of my life. To see two people that I would call old friends and have known for 19 years, be challenged and stretched to such a degree that it is hard to make sense of it; I see that there is a great need in my own life to get serious. In the words of a popular cartoon character, "This means war!"; and a war it is. Now that I have established that the race is serious, I must pay attention to what Paul says in 1 Cor. 9: 27 and punch out the desires of the flesh; "least by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway". This war we are in is real and it is brutal; but we must know who it is we are at war against and how we must use our weapons; 2 Cor. 10:3-6 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds); Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." Amen