Don’t you realise that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (1Corinthians 9:24)

Corinth was a city famous for the Isthmus Games. Attendance at the Games was considered the high point in the experience of a lifetime – they had a similar prestige to the Olympic Games today. Before the games, messengers would be sent to all parts of Greece to proclaim a "sacred truce" that halted all war for approximately three months.

International and local contests were almost always connected with religious festivals. Like today, such contests took place in stadiums. This is an event that would have been very familiar to the people of Corinth and Paul is sharing a deep spiritual insight through it. In the Isthmus Games if you signed your name up for a particular race, you were expected to run and you were competing for the ultimate accolade – a wreath made out of olive branches for the winner.

Paul, however, is revealing that all who choose to sign up to run for Christ are destined to receive a prize that is eternal. It isn’t about how fast you run that counts but how you run, that our lives have purpose every day and everyone who runs for Christ wins – today and at the finish line. The London 2012 Olympic Games is a celebration of youth and will be a once in a lifetime occasion. Be inspired by the stories in this edition of Fuse and join us summoning thousands of Christian students to make a difference during this Summer’s Olympics.