The Race of Life

It is important not just to start but to finish well! in the Bible, Christians are likened to athletes - more marathon runners rather than sprinters and definitely not as people going for an aimless stroll in the park! There is something that marathon runners need to finish the race and that is perseverance or endurance! Today, I am encouraged from Hebrews chapter 12. Let me share a few thoughts from these incredible verses!
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We are encouraged by God to throw off everything that hinders us from completing the race. As we run the race, we are surrounded and encouraged not only by God but also by all the faithful witnesses who have gone before us! If we were to view life as lived out for God's glory, what do you think are some of the distractions that come before you? Pre-occupation or living in the grip of past sins and patterns, daily temptations that face us, anxieties of life and the lure of wordly fame and wealth and success will be certainly some of the things we can run towards instead of running the real race!

If we were to watch a marathon race on television and see a few runners just going off on a different route rather than towards the finish line, would not we laugh and pity them? But that's exactly what we sometimes do! We get distracted and instead of running towards Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith we run after the little distractions. The only way we will continue to run the endurance race of life in the right direction is we fix our eyes on Jesus and look to Him for guidance along the way and live based on His wisdom and His ways!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Running an endurance event is not easy because we can just get discouraged and weary. Thankfully, we do not have a God who is at the finish line but we have a God who too ran the race of human life! He understands and sympathizes with our weaknesses and endured all the pain and suffering and even overcame all the distractions that entangles us!
Hebrews 4:16-16
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When we consider Him, really reflect on Him as our example, we too can run with passion and determination, being confident that we too can finish well!

How are you running the race of life - as a sprint, marathon or a stroll in the park? What is the goal or finish line for you? If it is anything other than eternity and Jesus Christ, then most likely you are satisfied with the little distractions rather than the True Signifance and Meaning of life. You are in a race, don't sit down or turn back but instead run with endurance. If you are weary and discouraged, consider Him who ran the same race on the same road as you and you will be encouraged to finish well and meet Him at the finish line!
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.