Going for Gold
A Word of Encouragement for the Road-Weary
It’s May 1992.
My stride is long and quick. Heart pumping. Adrenaline surging. Lungs burning.
My worn-out shoes have seen better days. I’m not the fastest sprinter on my team, but I hear Coach shouting to me from the infield. His deep, booming voice thunders in my ears— “Pump those arms, Vanessa! Move! Move! Move!”
Rounding the last corner, I close in on the final hundred meters and steal a glance at my dad watching by the fence.
He’s smiling.
Digging deep for the last stretch, I grit my teeth and give it everything I’ve got.
For my dad. For my coach. For my team.
A Metaphor for Life
The apostle Paul used athletic metaphors throughout his letters to illustrate the discipline, perseverance, and striving one needed to receive the eternal prize. My favorite analogy I find in his writing is that of a runner training for his race to win a wreath likened to the Christian pursuing righteousness and the ultimate treasure: union with Christ.
Paul had an amazing gift of meeting people where they were to bring Gospel truth to them, such as the philosophers on Mars’ Hill who erected statues of every god known to them including an “unknown god” (just, you know, to cover their bases). Paul didn’t speak to them as he would speak to fellow Jews, instead he used their desire for knowledge and apparent reverence for deity and met them there:
“Men of Athens! I see that you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an alter with this inscription: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.” (Acts 17:22) What an awesome example of how to share Truth with people of all walks of life!
Considering this gift, it is extremely likely Paul had the Isthmian Games in mind when writing to the church at Corinth. Whether Paul had ever attended the games (what better opportunity to share the Good News than a place flooded with people?!) or if he only knew of them from stories, I don’t know, but in any case, the Corinthians would have understood his metaphors loud and clear.1
I did a little research on the early Greek games and if I didn’t appreciate Paul’s athletic analogies before, I definitely do now!
Rules of the Game
The Isthmian Games, held in Corinth, were held in the springtime every two years, and were held in honor of the Greek god Poseidon. The competing athletes took an oath swearing to follow the rules of the Games. Temptations to cheat were abated by the terms of disqualification.2 Rule violators and those disqualified would be made publicly known. “Each guilty athlete was required to build a bronze statue to Zeus with his name inscribed upon it as the offending party. In future games, the athletes would run into the arena and pass these statues.”3 In addition to the public shame, rule violators were whipped, fined, and forbidden to ever compete again.4 The stigma associated with this form of punishment was enough to deter cheating and promote a desire to “play by the rules.”
Men competed in athletic competitions like racing, boxing, and wrestling and the winners were given a wreath of celery leaves, tax-free living, fame, and perhaps a victory ode sung in their honor.5 The rigorous self-discipline and training completed prior to the Games were considered well worth the rewards of winning.
Some of the rules to be followed included being a free Greek citizen of the Empire and prior training of at least ten months. Once approved, an athlete was not allowed to withdraw from the competition and promised not to use bribery or other self-promoting techniques.
At the end of the Games, the judge would award the winner in each category. (There was only one winner! No second or third place like in today’s Olympics.)
J. Michael Lester’s description of the competitors’ focus on the judge is a wonderful reminder of the Hebrews’ author’s imperative to “fix our eyes on Jesus” while running our own race:
“The starting place was at the entrance end and was marked by a square pillar. At the opposite end was the goal, where the judge sat and held the prize. The eyes of the competitors remained fixed on him.”6
With this backdrop in mind, we can more fully understand Paul’s words in First Corinthians 9:24-27:
“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 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. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (NLT)
The Long Road to Endurance
As a middle-distance runner, some days I practiced with the sprinters to develop power. Other days, I worked with the long-distance runners to develop endurance. I admired each group for their distinct strengths, but I secretly envied those who seemed to run the mile and 2-mile races with ease. And though I never realized it at sixteen, I can confidently say now that I learned more about perseverance, grit, and determination working with the distance runners than I ever did working with the sprinters.
Practice with that group always consisted of 5k treks “cross country” style—up long, gradual hills, through tree lined dirt paths, and along twisting endless back roads.
During those hour-long runs, I contemplated life and my reasons for putting myself through the relentless work of training many times, and for reasons I could never grasp, I kept doing it anyway.
The Fruit of Trials
In 2019, we decided to build a house. Our trim carpenter is an especially talented man who brought many of our hand-drawn visions to life. Older, nearing or in his early 70s, reserved and meticulous, I often wondered about his story. One day, I came by the house to “see how things were going.” The other subs7 had packed up for the day, but Dan stayed late to finish up some of the trim pieces. I risked a personal question. “How’d you become a carpenter, Dan? How’d you get so good?”
He proceeded to tell me an amazing story of how he apprenticed under a “gruff and tough World War II vet” who had learned the trade after a hard two-year period as a Prisoner of War. He said this man was someone “you didn’t fool with,” but he was a master and, with care and precision, taught him everything he needed to know to find success in the woodworking trade. His experience of extreme trial had shaped his character and work ethic in ways another route could not have done.
Talk about resilience, grit, and determination.
What is it about stories of perseverance through trial we find so admirable? I believe it comes from the very core of our creation story—we long for a victorious triumph over the evil that has infected every cell of our bodies, minds, and hearts. The “sin which clings so closely,” as the Hebrews author describes it.
The same sin which adds to the desire to give up, take it easy, or find ways to “cheat the system.” The same sin which makes us question if the goal is really worth all the trouble.
This course may have been set before each of us individually, but we do not run alone. We have a great “cloud of witnesses” cheering for us. They’ve run this race. They know our challenges, our exhaustion, the obstacles the enemy sets in our way; and yet their testimony calls to us: “Keep going! Don’t give up! It’s worth it!”
Don’t Give Up!
Somehow, I had managed to keep Becky’s pace that day. A year older than I, a Senior, she was stronger and more experienced, and someone I looked up to. With the finish line in sight, some 70ish yards ahead, I heard her say, “GO, Vanessa.” Was she encouraging me to beat her and take first place? I’m not sure, but I went for it.
Only there was nothing extra left. Keeping up with her had used up my “kick” reserve and she crossed the line two seconds ahead of me.
After the urge to puke finally stopped, she congratulated me on a good race. Swallowing the desire to cry, I forced a smile. “I tried, Becky.” Naturally sincere and kind, she pressed, “You did great.”
I didn’t win that day, but it wasn’t a failure because I didn’t quit. The training continued and the following week brought another meet and another opportunity to pursue excellence.
The 400-meter dash is a grueling race. Short enough one must push themselves the entire length, and yet long enough one must find and maintain a sustainable pace. It is demanding on the body, and perhaps even more so on the mind.
At my best and in good weather, a mere 63 seconds of my life; though it felt much, much longer than that from actual start to finish.
This life too is really just “momentary and light affliction” in relation to all eternity, but oh how arduous the day to day can be. But we keep. going. Be encouraged by the words of Paul who described his life as “being poured out like a drink offering” when he knew “the time [had] come for [his] departure:”
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
In this life, we’re not running for places or points or high fives from our coaches—we’re running for the Lord—to the Lord. Let us never give up!
Each day we’re given here we receive fresh mercies from God to continue the race. Let us strive for excellence then. Let us endeavor to persevere. To run the race set before us with determination and focus, “straining toward the goal to win the prize.”8 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who stands with beaming face and wide smile at the finish line ready to receive our tired, worn-out bodies and place a crown of righteousness upon our heads. A crown of imperishable gold. Won for us through the blood, sweat, and tears of the One who went before us.
How I long to hear those words from my Savior’s lips: “Well done, Vanessa.” And to be fully united with Him for all eternity.
What about you? Are you ready?
Then, take your marks…Get set…Go!
According to one source, historical records indicate the games were held in 51 AD when Paul was living in Corinth. As a tentmaker by trade, this would have been an amazing opportunity for employment (as travelers stayed in tents during the games) and sharing the Gospel with customers and spectators alike.
Gordon Franz, MA. “Going for the Gold: The Apostle Paul and the Isthmian Games.” biblearcheology.org July 16, 2012.
J. Michael Lester “Going for the Gold: Lessons from Paul’s References to Athletics” jmichaellester.com
Ibid.
I also learned that women were invited to compete (alongside men) in singing and poetry contests! I never knew that! One interesting account shares tales of a vain Emperor Nero forcing his rather unqualified self into competitions and bribing judges to crown him winner.
J. Michael Lester “Going for the Gold: Lessons from Paul’s References to Athletics” jmichaellester.com
Industry lingo for “subcontractors”
from Philippians 3:13-14
I loved this one, Vanessa. It took me back, too, to a time I barely knew my daughter. But I'm getting to know her now!
Thanks for sharing! Well said and just the encouragement i needed!