Ever seen a Rocky movie? Rocky, and real life boxers, prepare for months for a single fight. Hours of grueling training day after day for a few short rounds of boxing.
Olympic sprinters train for years for a race that can last less time than it has taken you to read this far in this post.
Why do they train so hard and long for events that might only last a few seconds or minutes? I assume it's because they believe the outcome of the fight or the race will be in their favor and the reward will be worth all the hard work they put into getting that prize.
How does this relate to my life?
According to the Bible, I should be preparing for a fight.
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
I am also involved in a race.
1 Corin 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
After thinking about all of this, it seems pretty obvious to me that my training for the spiritual fight I am in and the spiritual race I am running should be as least as strenuous as the training people do all the time for worldly prizes. If I think I can come out and fight against the devil's schemes without the necessary preparation, I am not only kidding myself but also setting myself up for a serious butt kicking.
Training to fight for God's Kingdom will not always be the easiest thing (you can bet on that) but the outcome of the fight will ultimately be in my favor (because it will be in God's favor) and the prize will definitely be worth it. So, let's get to work!
