Gò0dNews for Everyone
Seeking A Crown
I
by Ron Culbreth
f you are a sports fan like me you know something
discover you’ve had you ladder leaning against the wrong
about winning crowns, defending crowns, and losing
building the entire time.
crowns. Last month we crowned LSU as the champions
Basically, that is what Paul was saying, you may get
of college football; if they hope to remain as champions
to the top but is the reward one that is temporal, or, is it
they will have to have a stellar regular season, be chosen
everlasting. Paul went on to say, he didn’t run like he had
as one of the four teams to play for the title and win the
no plan or no destination in mind, he didn’t run wildly as
tournament all over again.
someone beating the air, no, his run was deliberate and
The Apostle Paul said in I Cor 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the
with far reaching consequences, not only for him but, for those he would encounter.
runners run, but only
In verse 27 he says,
one gets the prize”
“No I beat my body and
(NIV). He then says
make it my slave so that
“Run as in such a way
after I have preached to
as to get the prize. You can’t just decide you are
others, I my self will not be disqualified from the prize.”
going to run or participate
How do we beat our bodies?
without first training your
We, don’t physically, beat our
body. It takes countless hours of running and exercising before you are ready to compete. Why do
bodies, we bring our entire being to the Lord and offer it as a living sacrifice to Him. It’s pretty simple, if
they punish their bodies to receive
you have two dogs and you feed one
something they could well lose in
and do not feed the other, which will
the near future? As much as I enjoy sports, each time I
live, and which will die. What we read, hear and see will affect our spiritual life and, it will
see an individual, or, a team hoist the trophy in
be evident to others as well. Let us rejoice with
celebration I can’t help but think how fleeting
Paul in saying “I have fought the good fight, I have
that moment is and how quickly people will forget. The Apostle Paul says “They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” I once heard it said concerning
finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
success, there is nothing more disappointing than to scratch and claw your way to the top of the ladder only to find out, once you
36 // May 2020
About The Author
have gotten to the top, you Ron Culbreth lives in Cleveland, Tennessee. He is a graduate of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. He is also a retired crisis counselor and is a member of the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in Cleveland.
