In my adult life I have been an on and off runner. I’ve had season where I ran consistently and seasons where I haven’t run at all. I don’t love running, but I love having ran, if you know what I mean. I do love the mental clarity I experience when I run.
Six times the New Testament talks about running. No, not physical running, but spiritual running. Six times the New Testament calls the life we are living for God a race.
In Acts 20:24 Paul says, “…my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.”
Years later in 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul is at the end of his ministry and he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
But my favorite New Testament reference to the Christian life being a race is found in Hebrews 12:1. It says, “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.”
Notice what he says. We are to throw off everything that hinders and gets in the way of our spiritual running.
I have two sisters who are avid runners. They have many medals to show for the races they have completed. Last year one of my sisters completed the New York City Marathon. I was impressed.
She could tell you about things that hinder your running. Whether it’s not having the proper shoes, or the weather, or dehydration, muscle cramps, or running at the wrong pace, there are many things that could hinder the successful completion of a race.
In the spiritual race there are sins and hindrances that entangle us and threaten our race. It could be temptation, discouragement, stress, problems, or other kinds of battles. The write of Hebrews says we are to throw this things off.
He says we are to run with perseverance. We began this race with great excitement. Do you remember when you first placed your faith in Jesus? Do you remember how excited you were about the things of God. Sometimes life has a ways wearing us down. For you and I to finish this spiritual race, perseverance is necessary.
If you have ever run a marathon you know how excited everyone is at the starting line. Somewhere around mile 20 you hit a wall. You are so fatigued you are tempted to quit. Your mind tells you that you cannot go any further. It takes great endurance and mental focus to keep going.
Your relationship with God is a marathon. Everyone is excited at the start. But you will hit a wall. What you choose to do in that moment determines your future.
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race…”
Paul didn’t say he won the race. He merely said that he had finished. He was proud that he had finished and had not given up. He kept running until the end.
When my sisters ran marathons neither of them ever entered the race to actually win it. Their goal was to finish. This is a picture of our journey of faith in Jesus. This life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and it requires us to keep running until we cross the finish line.
There is one last thing you must see from this verse in Hebrews 12:1. It says we run the race marked out for us. God has a race marked out for each of us. None of us run the same race. Your life, it’s challenges, its opportunities, it’s difficulties, and it’s victories, is different than mine.
God has a race marked out for you to run. By his grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit you can finish this race.
Today’s Challenge: You might be listening to this podcast and lately you have been tempted to quit, to throw in the towel, and to give up this race. Today, receive this word from the Lord. Keep running. Don’t stop. For those who endure to the end there is a crown God has promised.
