The Green Bay Packers just won their 13th world football championship, this on top of all the other titles they have won. The televised game was the most watched TV show ever, with a US audience of 111 million. The Packers trained long and hard for this win.

   The Bible has some things to say about top athletes like the Packers. “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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

   This is one of several Bible passages that use athletics to make spiritual points. Athletes go into strict training and then compete to win. A Christian should focus on Jesus, and not let other things distract his or her attention from Jesus, for it is Jesus who gives us eternal life as a free gift.

   “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2).