Devotions: How Do You Compete?

 

Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

2 Timothy 2:5 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 

What makes a fair game? In any sport or competition, it is only fair if the competitors play according to the rules and the judges are unbiased. All too often in the human world that doesn’t happen, but God is not human. He is perfectly good and just. He is always fair. So the only thing hindering us from winning the race of life and getting the prize at the end is how we compete. Are we competing according to the rules? What are the rules? What is the prize? If life is the race, then the prize is eternal life. The judge of this contest is God and since the judge determines the rules, that would be the Bible. We have to live according to the Bible in order to get the prize. I don’t think this is referring to earning or losing salvation, but God rewards everyone according to their deeds. There are other “prizes” we get in heaven, what exactly is not clear, but God does not overlook the good we have done. However, in order to get those prizes, in order for Him to say “well done”, we need to live according to the rules. We don’t get rewards for doing what is wrong; instead we should expect to face consequences. If we want the prize, we should not disqualify ourselves by breaking the rules. Granted, if our motive is a prize and not God we miss the point, but we should not expect a prize if we don’t live rightly. In the same way that “there is no prize for second place,” there is also no prize for partial obedience. We need to be strong, diligent, and faithful. We need to hold to the truth, unwilling to compromise or remain quiet out of fear. How are you competing? Will you win the race or have you disqualified yourself from the prize? Are you willing to stand for the truth and live it no matter what?

 

 

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