Notice what Paul said about earthly athletes: “They do it to obtain a perishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25). A pine wreath. Something that was not even comfortable hanging around the winner’s neck. These days, the most prestigious prize for a runner is an Olympic gold medal. I’m told the material from which they are made is worth about $110. These are perishable prizes. They have little intrinsic value. Even the intangible rewards are short-lived. And yet athletes make amazing sacrifices to win them.
