Our bodies are not evil although they are permanently marred by sin. They are the battleground of temptation. We must therefore control our bodies or they will control us (cf. Rom. 8:1–11).

Using a powerful metaphor, Paul exhorts that Christians should exercise self-control in all things. There are three reasons for this.

You are a runner

1.You are a runner. Christians are spiritual runners. We are not spectators. We run. We don’t walk or stand or sit around while watching other runners go by. Christians are spiritual runners. We are not spectators. We run. We don’t walk or stand or sit around while watching other runners go by. A runner trains hard. As spiritual athletes, we discipline ourselves toward godliness (I Timothy 4:7). A runner trains hard. As spiritual athletes, we discipline ourselves toward godliness (I Timothy 4:7).

You are in a race

2.You are in a race. There is a race marked out for Christians (Hebrews 12:1), the race of keeping and proclaiming the faith (II Timothy 4:7). We cannot afford to waste time. We have to “redeem the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). There is a race marked out for Christians (Hebrews 12:1), the race of keeping and proclaiming the faith (II Timothy 4:7). We cannot afford to waste time. We have to “redeem the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

2.You are in a race. A runner trains hard so as not to be disqualified. As spiritual athletes, we cannot have excess baggage. We “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” and “we fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2). A runner trains hard so as not to be disqualified. As spiritual athletes, we cannot have excess baggage. We “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” and “we fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

There is a prize

3.There is a prize. Christians who run with perseverance will receive a reward. The Bible talks of different rewards: the crown of rejoicing (cf. I Thess. 2:19) ; the crown of righteousness (cf. II Tim. 4:8) ; the crown of life (cf. James 1:12; Rev. 2:10) ; and the crown of glory (cf. I Pet. 5:4). Christians who run with perseverance will receive a reward. The Bible talks of different rewards: the crown of rejoicing (cf. I Thess. 2:19) ; the crown of righteousness (cf. II Tim. 4:8) ; the crown of life (cf. James 1:12; Rev. 2:10) ; and the crown of glory (cf. I Pet. 5:4).

3.There is a prize. A runner trains hard with the crown in mind. As spiritual athletes, we lay our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19- 20) and set our minds on heavenly things, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2). A runner trains hard with the crown in mind. As spiritual athletes, we lay our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19- 20) and set our minds on heavenly things, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).