11 Parallels in the Bible between Living for Christ and Training Like an Olympian

“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” - Luke 13:34. 

The “striving” the Bible describes here is an athlete’s struggle—one who is committed to making it through the narrowest, most difficult part of the race, to see the finish line, and win the prize. This verse makes me think about the narrowest moments in bike racing, in which the bikes are squeezing their way to the front of the pack of racers. For us, the door and the prize are the same- Jesus. For those who know Jesus, we will be saved and receive entry into eternal life.  

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“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom of not of this world.’”- John 18:36. 

Jesus repeats a similar phrase three times: my kingdom is not of this world. He explains that if it were, his servants would be fighting like contenders in an athletic event. Instead, his disciples were surrendered to God’s will, that Jesus would die on the cross for the sins of the world. Sometimes, even the best athletes must surrender to an outcome they can’t control to see their teammates do their best. Similarly, the disciples could not control God’s will but were willing to let go of their sense of control so that Jesus could fulfill his purposes on earth and in heaven. Often, in the Christian life, we are called to surrender to God, trusting his will, even when we can’t see the outcome.

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“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”- 1 Corinthians 9:25.

Just like the Olympians practice self-control and discipline to stand on that platform and win their medals, we practice the same things spiritually to win a prize that will never fade away: eternal life with Christ.

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“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one breathing the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified.”-  1 Corinthians 9:26. 

Here, Paul, who wrote this, compares himself to a runner with a finish line in mind and a boxer with an endgame in mind. The same is true of our Christian faith. We are called to run with purpose (not live randomly) after the things of God so that we are not disqualified. 

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“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy, that the powerfully works within me.”- Col 1:29.

For the sake of the gospel and sharing it with all people, Paul strives like an athlete, but instead of endorphins, the apostle is filled with the Spirit’s energy, which empowers him. We are invited to live in the same way. 

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“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers that you may stand mature and fully assured in the will of God. “- 1 Timothy 4:10

In this scripture, the athlete is a prayer olympian, committed to praying the same way a competitor might struggle to win his or her race. We are invited to pray with that same passion and vigor. 

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“For this reason, we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. –1 Timothy 4:10.

The Bible encourages us to train like athletes for godliness. According to Paul, this involves spiritual training in the Word and good Doctrine. 

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“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”— 1 Timothy 6:12.

Here, we are reminded that sometimes faith is a fight. Just like a tough athlete determined to get to the finish line or the end of the line, we are to have that same kind of determination when we face struggles and challenges in our lives. When you hit challenges in your race, stay faithful. Stay focused. And like a trained athlete, grab the prize of faith. 

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“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”- 2 Timothy 4:7

Here, Paul is talking about earning the crown of righteousness that athletes and Olympians win, but Paul means this spiritually because he has stayed faithful to Jesus. We are called to that same kind of faithfulness. 

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“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.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24

A repeated theme of the Bible is running the race so that we win the prize. Run after Jesus in the ups and downs of life like an Olympic athlete determined to win the gold. 

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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witness, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

This beautiful passage of Scripture imagines us, followers of Jesus, as athletes competing in a large auditorium, with crowds of faithful followers of God—those who have gone before us—cheering us on. We are called, as the best racers, to shake off anything that is ruining our endurance, keeping us slow, or holding us back.  

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