Our Ironman Race

The Ironman Triathlon is one of the most grueling endurance races to ever challenge its participants. What can this race teach us about our Christian lives?

The full Ironman Triathlon is considered the pinnacle of all endurance races. It consists of swimming 2.4 miles in an ocean or lake, biking a formidable 112 miles and topping it all off with a full, 26.2-mile marathon. While racing, participants’ faces express emotions ranging from happiness, anguish, determination, doubt and contentment.

Competitors usually train from 8 to 12 months for an Ironman Triathlon. There is an immense physical and mental demand put on racers in every segment of the triathlon, requiring racers to develop both physical and mental strength.

What does competing in an Ironman Triathlon have to do with our Christian lives? The Bible sometimes likens Christianity to an endurance race. Those who are called have signed up for the most difficult endurance race of their lives.

Endure sufferings

Chris McCormack, a two-time winner of the Ironman World Championship, has said, “Success in the sport is, above all else, about enduring suffering.” God allows us to face trials and hardships to help us build His holy righteous character (Psalm 34:19). But, though we have to face trials, God promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

This present world is temporary, and the afflictions we are facing now are only temporary (2 Corinthians 4:16). The apostle Paul’s reference to “our light affliction, which is but for a moment” speaks volumes about his perspective. He endured beatings, shipwrecks, dangers, weariness, hunger, and cold while doing God’s work (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). But, as Paul concluded, the hardships we face are light compared to the magnitude of receiving eternal life (Romans 8:18). “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

Finish strong!

The race we are in requires us to envision the finish line. The racers participating in an Ironman Triathlon race to obtain a temporary crown. In a year, there will be another race and another winner. We run to receive an eternal crown of righteousness, given by God, which will last forever. In order to receive this crown, we must bring our thoughts, speech and actions into subjection to God (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Although we won’t attain perfection in this physical life, we are called to continually strive toward it. We are instructed by the apostle Paul to forget those things that are behind (referring to this physical life) and reach forward toward everlasting life (Philippians 3:12-14).

We have been called to the most difficult and intense race of our lives. God is preparing a place in His Kingdom for those who have endured and finished the race strong. At the end of his life the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Will you finish the race?

For more insight into this topic, read “Run With Endurance.”