Timothy, winning is not what counts, playing to win is what counts. The Champ agonizes to win by refusing the contaminated grain. To stay in the contest, the champion must get a grip on eternal life. My understanding of this is that eternal life is the prize. A great contemporary expression for the words, lay hold of, would be, get a grip on.
Eternal life is wonderful and marvelous.
Your survival depends upon it, therefore, get a grip on it, appreciate what it is and it will transform the way you perform in the contest of life. The Champion Makes a Commitment to Perseverance for the sake of the person he's playing for. Men, there is a place and a time when you must fly your flag for Jesus and declare that you live to be a champion for Jesus. Baptism is a declaration that you understand that your survival is at stake. It's a declaration that you will no longer eat contaminated grain.