LET'S RUN THE RACE
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July 2000
I can remember watching my little brother Eric (who's not so little anymore) run the one mile in track. Eric and I were like many children in the U.S. We come from broken homes. That's not to say our home was bad. It was good. It was a tough and confusing time for me, and I know it was for my brother also. I watched him run in my memory and as I reflected on how he dedicated himself and pushed himself, it reminded me of 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 as Paul compares our striving for the crown of Christ as to one who runs a race and trains his body. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air."
I can remember watching those young men stretching their bodies to make the run. How they conditioned their bodies to make the run and give it their all. Jesus wants us to give Him our all. We read, study the Scriptures, pray, and fellowship. We condition our Spirit man, our heart, to the will of God. We learn of our Lord Jesus Christ. Like those who train for track or the other events, they are at different levels of skill and endurance, but they do it with confidence. We can be confident in Jesus Christ that He will take us all the way. He will train us, teach us, and guide us in full love and full strength of His glory.
As I watched those men getting ready to take off, I could see the intensity on their faces, eyes focused, heads up, jaw muscles clenching, the milking of the hands, every muscle poised and ready for the start's gun to go off. In the struggles they would endure to make it around the track. If any of them jumped the start they would be disqualified. I know my brother was patient and focussed. As the sound of the gun came they were off and running. You could see the ambition on each face as they ran for a perishable crown, but we run for an imperishable crown.
We run the race of faith in Christ. We endure the pains and sufferings. It is how God molds us and fashions us into the image of His Son. It isn't easy to run a mile full out. It's the same with the walk in Christ. As we face many struggles, we need to praise God. We have a trainer who'd right there by our side, telling us how we can overcome, how we can endure the pain. We can run this race with confidence in Christ!
When those men were running, you could see the anguish on their faces as they began to enter the third lap/ Maybe some of them wanted to give up. Maybe they began to hurt so bad that they were losing focus, or just wanted to quit. But they didn't. They kept right on running, pushing on, giving it their all! Jesus wants us to endure and to press towards the mark in Him.
Watching my brother pull ahead of the other men was awesome. I could see the desire on his face to win the prize. He came in second, but he gave it his all. We can say it like it says in 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" We never give up. We keep the faith in Christ knowing the gift He has given us will help us in our goal of doing good works for His glory.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, when those trials come your way, don't think it strange and don't be dismayed. Don't let the pain, hurt, or disappointment stop you. Just like a runner may fall down, he gets up and keeps right on trying, training and conditioning himself to win. We need to keep pressing on in Christ Jesus, conditioning ourselves in the Word of God and prayer. Study and stay in fellowship with Jesus and the Church. I can't say it enough. NEVER GIVE UP!! My brothers and sisters, never give up. None of the runners did.
Now my brother runs the race of faith with me who believe in Christ Jesus, and the lord continues to bless him. As he endures the hardships of life, the lord uses him in a mighty way. Let's continue to run the race in Christ Jesus, fight the good fight, to finish the race and keep that faith that Christ has given to us who believe in Him and love Him. He's right beside us, encouraging, coaching, and cheering us on.
My friends, keep on running towards that wonderful prize in Christ Jesus. May he continue to encourage you and strengthen you every day. God Bless!
