Athletes Must Follow the Rules

“And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” 2 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

In a story published by Canadian Running Magazine on October 14, it was announced that Kenyan marathoner Paul Matheka broke one of running’s golden rules: “nothing new on race day,” and it ended up costing him. Before the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon on Oct.5, Matheka did not have a pair of shoes for the race, so he purchased an off-brand pair at the event’s expo.

The writer went on to explain: Despite the last-minute gear change, Matheka finished seventh overall in just under 2:20, enough to earn US$1,000 in prize money. But when officials inspected his shoes after the race, they noticed the 32-year-old had been wearing a pair of Voltra JET carbon-plated racing shoes, a model not listed on World Athletics’ approved shoe list. Because the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon is a World Athletics Elite Label event, it must follow the governing body’s competition rules, which include its footwear regulations. As a result, Matheka was disqualified.Voltra, a Malaysian running shoe brand, quickly stepped in to take responsibility. The company said Matheka had purchased the shoes at Voltra’s booth during the marathon expo, and both parties were unaware at the time that the shoes needed approval to be used for a World Athletics Label race.

“It was an honest mistake by both sides,” Voltra later said in a social media post. 

And while it may have been an honest mistake on behalf of both parties, it was still a “mistake” that came with the due consequences as laid out in the rules—consequences that led to Paul’s rightful disqualification. And while it might seem unfair, consider that it was Matheka’s responsibility to know the rules and to abide by them before stepping up to the start line. In fact, it’s the responsibility of every athlete who chooses to complete. 

Similarly, as Paul told Timothy, “If anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” Spiritually speaking, Paul was making the clear point that an athlete or Christian can’t make up the rules as he or she pleases or disregard the rules that are in place; everyone without exception must compete according to the rules if they want to receive the crown.

You can be sure it’s possible for people to fall into the mistake of thinking they can ignore or create their own rules for the Christian life though. For some people, their special concession to the rules goes something like this: “I know this is sin, but God understands, so I’ll just keep going in this sin.” Or “I’m not hurting anyone else so why stop?” Or even “This makes me happy and I know God wants me to be happy.” These justifications not only break God’s rules but go contrary to the mind of an athlete who’s trained to competes according to the rules.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20

It’s also possible to fall into the mistake of thinking that there’s no God or Creator to be accountable to. Therefore there’s no need to adhere to the “rules” laid out in the Bible. But, once again there’s no justification for making that mistake because the Word tells us that “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

That means, God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident and seen through creation, by the things that are made. Through creation, God has given a general revelation that is obvious both in the world and within the mind and heart of man. R.C.H. Lenski says it this way, “Men cannot charge God with hiding himself from them and thus excuse their irreligion and their immorality.” Mankind has no excuse for not knowing God!

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

Furthermore, Solomon declared that God has put eternity into the hearts of humans. He clearly understood that man has an awareness and a longing for the eternal, something God put in each person’s heart when He formed them in the image of Himself. Eaton’s Commentary explains it this way, “The Preacher’s vast researches have found nothing in the finite earthly realm which can satisfy the human heart intellectually or practically... This is the nearest he comes to Augustine’s maxim: ‘You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find peace in you.’” 

So, knowing that those who don’t compete according to the rules are disqualified, vow to follow the statutes laid out in the Bible my friend, that your race might not be run in vain. Follow the rules so that you can gain the crown and bring glory to His name—remembering that there’s no excuse for not doing so since God reveals Himself in the Word and in the world. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for making it clear that those who profess to follow You must abide by the rules, laws, and commandments in the Bible. Help us to remember that these rules never change, they are clearly laid out, and men have no concessions or justifications for breaking them. Stir our hearts to look at life through an eternal lens that we might discipline the flesh and run with integrity Lord. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!