Los Angeles is getting a disease called ”World Series Fever.” Whether or not the Dodgers will win the pennant is at present unknown but the tickets are already sold in case they do.

Paul drew lessons from the athletes of his day. He mentioned running to win and fighting but not beating the air. There are also lessons we can learn from the modern day athlete which we can use in our walk to the Kingdom.

Whenever we see a professional baseball game we are impressed by the amount of practice that is necessary to stay in the big leagues. In between innings the various members of the team play catch with one another while the pitcher is warming up. Just prior to the game both teams have batting practice, and even after each strike out they play catch around the infield if there is no one on base. When we realize that these men play ball for a living and started their spring training in February, it seems incredible that they still feel it is necessary to practice every minute they can late in September. By now they have caught thousands of balls and thrown a like number; surely they would not need to play catch in between innings now!

Champions realize that they must continue to practice or they are no longer champions. This is true in every sport as well as in music. Fritz Kreisler said that if he did not practice one day he knew it, if he did not practice two days, his friends knew it, and if he did not practice three days the whole world knew it. Such an accomplished violinist as Kreisler realized that it required practice, practice, practice, to stay sharp.

Why is it that when it comes to religion we seem to think that we do not need to keep this razor sharp edge to serve Christ effectively? The Bible readings need to be done every day, not just when we get around to them. Daily prayer is exactly that, daily prayer. If we neglect to read and pray for one day, we know it. If we miss several days, our family can usually tell the difference, and if we consistently crowd God out of our lives, no one will know that we belong to Him.

The professional athlete literally eats, breathes, and sleeps his sport. He practices until he knows that he will react correctly in any given situation. Although he knows what’s right, he still continues to practice so he will do what’s right.

Now just because we were baptized some years ago and know right from wrong does not automatically make us do what is right. We must continue to practice, to train, to keep our bodies in subjection. The professional athlete realizes that his body is important to his career and for this reason he is careful not to abuse or hurt it. Paul asks us the question ”What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”

In our life in Christ, our bodily exercise is less important than godly thinking, for ”godliness is profitable unto all things.” The modern athlete also realizes how important the mental attitude is. Just look at the difference two managers can make. The members of the team have the same talents but under one manager who is able to motivate them to try harder, to give the second effort, the losing team becomes the championship team.

When we consider our manager who gave his all for us, can we refrain from doing our best? He has shown us the way, he has left us the Book of instructions, he will listen when we ask for help. Can we, dare we, do less than our best? Dare we cut short whatever practice it takes to make us spiritual champions? One super star got in big trouble with his manager this year because he did not hustle. The fact he had great talent was not enough, he was required to hustle, to go all out, to do his best.

Our manager is not willing for any of us to perish, to not make the team. We have been called to a wonderful calling. We must do our best. He is faithful and just and will not require of us more than we can do but are we going all out for him? Paul did. He said ”You ought to run with your minds fixed on winning the prize! Every competitor in athletic events goes into serious training. Athletes will take tremendous pains – for a fading crown of leaves. But our contest is for an eternal crown that will never fade. I run the race then with determination. I am no shadow-boxer, I really fight!”