So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
1 Corinthians 9:26, ESV
When tasked with the goal of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.) one must have extreme focus. A temporary focus won’t do. The end goal must remain at the forefront and it must live there.
Paul uses two types of athletes here to demonstrate his point. We are not to run this life without aim wasting our time and energy looking like we’re doing all the right things, yet missing the mark in the end.
A runner runs the race of completing all of his lifework by taking careful aim at the goal. Our goal — fully proclamation of the gospel (fulfilling the Great Commission). This is to be the focus of every disciple of Christ as well.
And as a boxer, we win when we’re fighting the RIGHT fight! We can’t just fight to be a fighter, have passion to be passionate have drive to be driven. What’s the purpose if not for Christ?
We can spend all of our time, effort and money trying to win on earth instead of trying to win spiritually.
You may hit the bullseye but was it even the right target?
Don’t live your whole life doing all the right things and even making some points only to realize when it’s too late that you were scoring on the enemy’s goal. Don’t end up making this face…