Jump Start # 386

2 Timothy 2:5 “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.”

  Our passage today is taken from some of the final pages of Paul’s writings. He is writing to Timothy, a young preacher in Ephesus. The older preacher talking to the younger preacher. The things he writes are for all of us.

  Paul like to talk about sports. He would have been an ESPN junkie today. His writings include illustrations about boxing, running and competing as athletes. The Romans loved sports. They filled stadiums to watch events. Paul understood that there is a parallel in the Christian walk and sports.

  The verse today is found in a series of illustrations taken from life:

• V. 4 the soldier does not entangle himself in the affairs of everyday life
• V. 5 the athlete must go by the rules to win the prize
• V. 6 the farmer is the first to enjoy his crops

  These words and illustrations have to do with our relationship with the Lord. Our verse, the middle illustration, is about honesty and obedience in what we do. This illustration is so vivid to us, “play according to the rules.” We grew up saying, “cheaters never win and winners never cheat.” Great saying. Wish athletes lived by that. Wish everyone lived by that. We know they don’t. Baseball has it’s steroid issues. College sports has it’s violation of NCAA regulations. Every Olympics has some athletes being sent home for cheating. Cheaters have been caught and exposed in nearly every sport. It ruins the spirit of the games. It makes younger ones coming on believe that the only way to survive is to cheat.

  We understand this in sports. We try to teach the kids to play fair. It’s not whether you win or lose we tell them, but it’s the adults that have the real trouble here. We are the cheaters. Paul’s words are just an example, an illustration. His point, as always is spiritual. It is about God. The prize he mentions would be Heaven, the ultimate goal for all disciples. The rules are the New Testament, the law of Christ. John said, “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God…” (2 John 9). Play by the rules.

  The Galatians were told, “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Gal. 6:7). There is no fooling God. God knows. No one can cheat God and win. It simply won’t happen. Play by the rules!

  Sounds simple, doesn’t it. We get it. Yet, we don’t. Bring up some interesting topics such as, divorce and all of a sudden people start finding ways not to go by what God said. Some will try to rewrite what the rules say. Some will claim a special exemption from the rules. Some will say that the rules won’t work today. How about baptism? How about righteousness? How about the rules on homosexuality? Capital punishment? Do you know God speaks about that in the New Testament?

  The rules of God are much deeper and greater than simply be nice and love everybody. That is the flavor of the month in religion these days. Just love, that’s all God cares about. It makes me think that most people view Jesus as the first hippie—long hair, flip flops, peace sign, make love and not war sign. Where do they get that image? Not from the Bible.

  To get the prize, we must compete according to the rules. This means, we first must know the rules. Ever get with a group of people to play some cards. There will be someone who never played before. The first thing you do is teach them how to play. You tell them the “rules.” They can’t play, unless they know the rules. We better be finding out the rules. This means more time in the Bible. Looking at what Christ and the apostles said. Studying words. Taking time to learn, think and meditate on these things.

  Next, don’t be discouraged when others don’t play by the rules. It seems everyone cheats. You don’t be one of those. Stick with what God said, the way He said it. Don’t break the rules because others are. That never helps matters.

  Stay with it. There is an end in sight. There is a prize awaiting. You must finish and you must compete according to the rules.

  It do well for some churches to remember this verse. Growth means nothing if you must break the rules to bring people in. Worship must be according to the rules or God will reject it. Remember Cain and Abel? Marriage—according to the rules. Raising kids—according to the rules.

 Now in doing this, some get agitated and proclaim “legalism.” They love that word. They don’t know what it means. It is generally stated by those who don’t keep the rules towards those who are. So if I simply do what this verse tells me to do, keep the rules, does that make me a legalist? By some people’s definition it does. Their definition is wrong. Legalism is putting the law or the rule above all things, even God. It is the worship of the law, not the giver of the law. Law biding and legalism are not twins. They don’t even live in the same house. The answer to legalism is not lawlessness. Cheating is not the answer.

  Keep the rules as God gave them. If you do this, you’ll be fine. Stay with it and you’ll receive the prize. God is good. He wants you to want Him. He wants you to follow Him. Trust Him. What He says is right and good. You’ll never be wrong by doing what the Bible says. Everyone else just needs to get with it and quit cheating.

Roger