I
t seems as though, at least here in Colorado, everyone has to get out and “run.” And it doesn’t matter what time of day or night, there are always people out running; even when its 10 below. And in some respects the bride is doing the same thing. But often she takes Paul’s admonition to run in the wrong context because she thinks that is what she is supposed to do; how she’s supposed to do it…
1 Cor 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
But getting up every morning and taking a deep breath so we can run through the day isn’t what Paul said. Take the word race. In the Greek it is stadion, which means a measure of distance or a race-course. For each one of us the Lord has laid out a race-course that we are to “run.” But not to run the way we normally take that word. We all believe that this life is not to be run as a sprint, it’s a marathon. But once again that isn’t what Paul is saying here. The Greek gives us a much better understanding of Paul’s admonition; trecho – to walk hastily.
Yes we are to “Walk With God” but note that it is not a lazy, go at our own speed walk… it’s hastily. Or as Webster put it… “without delay.” That’s what Paul meant. We are to begin our day with the commitment to be about walking out the next leg of our race-course without any delay because there is a “prize” at the end of the race. And the word “prize” also has a deeper meaning than the gold medal or trophy we normally associate with it. The word is brabeion and it comes from the word brabeus, which means an award from an umpire; an award of arbitration. Its a judgement by an umpire to settle a dispute. And the key is for us to run the race so we can “obtain” that judgment.
But, yup, once again we turn to the original meaning of “obtaining,” and Paul uses it to make his point. Katalambano means to apprehend, comprehend or perceive. And when we put that in context with “race” and “run” we can fully understand what Paul said. Let me put it in my own words…
Jesus has set before each member of His bride a course through this life that we are to walk out without delay in order that we may comprehend what the prize is before we receive it. We are to walk out this life here on earth to prepare us to receive His prize, the fact that He has already arbitrated the dispute between us and the Father and judged us not guilty. And the object of our race is to prepare us to fully understand and comprehend what the purpose of the race is all about. You guessed it…
Rom 8:29-33 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Our goal in life is to allow the Holy Spirit to conform us into the “character” of Chris, the very character He has placed inside of u; His righteousness. And in order to do that we have to understand that it is already a completed fact. We have been “justified” and “glorified” already, all we have to do is “walk” them out. And Paul has already told us how…
Heb 12:1-2 …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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…
Then one day we will also be able to say…
2 Tim 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 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.
Phil 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.
And as we look up into His face we will hear those wonderful words…
Matt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.