YOU’VE ALL BEEN TO THE STADIUM AND SEEN THE ATHLETES RACE.
EVERYONE RUNS; ONE WINS. RUN TO WIN. ALL GOOD ATHLETES TRAIN HARD. THEY DO IT FOR A GOLD MEDAL THAT TARNISHES AND FADES. YOU’RE AFTER ONE THAT’S GOLD ETERNALLY. 1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-25(MSG)
Have we been watching the Winter Olympics? What is the goal of every event? The goal is to win. Everybody wants to receive the gold medal. What about in our spiritual life? Do we want to have victory in our lives? We need to run with perseverance that race that God has in store for us. Imagine what our world would be like if we all decided to be obedient to everything that God tells us to do. The Bible tells us to get rid of the junk that hinders our relationship with God and the sin that entangles us and run the race of life, knowing that God is the one who is on our side. He has promised that we would have an abundant life, but we need to do our part. We need to listen and obey. We need to get busy accomplishing that tasks that God has for us. Are we really ready to join God in this adventure of life that we are in?
When businessman Allen Emery was in the wool business, he once spent an evening with a shepherd on the Texas prairie. During the night, the long wail of coyotes pierced the air. The shepherd’s dogs growled and peered into the darkness. The sheep, which had been sleeping, lumbered to their feet, alarmed, bleating pitifully. The shepherd tossed more logs onto the fire, and the flames shot up. In the glow, Allen looked out and saw thousands of little lights. He realized those were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep. 
“In the midst of danger,” he observed, “the sheep were not looking out into the darkness but were keeping their eyes set in the direction of their safety, looking toward the shepherd. I couldn’t help but think of Hebrews 12: ‘looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.…’”
Is our focus on Jesus? We can run the race with confidence, knowing that Jesus is with us. May we never take our eyes off of Jesus. He is the one who will bring us victory. We no longer need to fear what the world may throw at us. This is a challenge, but we can win the gold medal. Are we up for it?