Strict Training

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever"- 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV).

When I was younger, much younger, I signed up to run a 5K. We just called it a three-mile race back then. My training program was to run one mile every other day. I thought if I could run one mile, I could run three...right? The day of the race, the Carolina Canter, I ran a nice one-mile stretch, but then my body began to complain and it got louder by the minute, until I finally slowed to a walk to collect myself. Needless to say, I did not win the race; but, I did learn a life lesson: You must have the self-discipline to train yourself for the race. Paul used a race as an analogy to our winning a crown and entering into our eternal reward. In verse 27 he says, "I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." The prize awaits those who had the self-discipline to enter into strict training to compete in the games. Will you be ready when the games begin?