Paul had a unique experience that allowed him to connect with the gentiles(non-Jews) such as ourselves. He was born a Roman citizen while being raised in a Jewish family. He was the top of the top of his class, a soon to be famous Pharisee(Philippians 3:4-6). Yet, God changed his life and revealed His glory to him through Jesus(Acts 9:1-19, 1 Corinthians 15:8). While Paul was in captivity in Caesarea Maritima, awaiting his trial and ultimate sending to Rome, he had a view of the Hippodrome from the cell in Herod's castle by the sea(behind the picture shown below). He could view and witness the events of the races that took place. To hear the sounds of the chariots, to see the crowds cheering, and witnessing the rewards that each winner received. Paul, through his experiences that God put him through, was able to connect to us in a way that a normal Jew could not.
Even in our culture today, racing and winning is ingrained in us, the sports we play and the teams we follow. We understand what it means to run a race. It is through these experiences that Paul could use races to connect with non-Jews. To run the race set out for us. To leave all we know behind and to strain to what is ahead. To see and know God above any worldly pleasures and allowing us to leave all that is behind, straining to what is ahead, pressing toward the goal, and to win the prize for which God has called us to through Jesus Christ(Philippians 3:12-14).
Run the race to win, don't aim for anything less. It demands our utmost, our very lives. Even in sorrow, in loss, in heartache and persecution, it is the goal that is set for us that keeps us going. To know that the end of this life is not the end, but only the beginning of eternity with God. It is in this that Jesus said that to follow Him you have to pick up your cross daily(Matt 16:24) and to carry within you the death of Jesus in order to bring life to others(2 Corinthians 4:12). Let others see the love of Jesus Christ in you through your actions. This is the race that God has called us to as disciples of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
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