“Running the Race”

12/23/13

There are many marathons where thousands of runners from different cities, towns and  countries gather at a starting line somewhere in the world.

Prior to the event runners train to prepare for the race.  Most of the training is to prepare the runners to complete the full 26.5 miles while other runners train to beat their previous record.  There are many parallels between a marathon and the race Christians are called to run.

At the very beginning of our spiritual journey we find ourselves at the starting line and as soon as the starter pistol is fired (in our acceptance of JESUS CHRIST) we begin the race that lasts a lifetime.  As we enter the race we may find it easy to start, we run at a fast pace due to our excitement about JESUS. 

There are several places in the Bible that tells us that doing well in this type of race is only going to be accomplished by the willingness to not only enter the race but also to finish it.  Most runners in a physical marathon don’t run to win, they run to participate.  In the race we run we participate through obedience, endurance and steadfastness all accomplished through Faith.

In running a marathon there is potential for common injuries.  Some injuries so severe that the runner has to drop out.  There is no difference in our spiritual race.  We can also obtain injuries to our spirit.  These injuries may cause us to let go of GOD’s hand for a season due to circumstances that slow down our pace making it harder to compete and strive to complete our race.   Hebrews 12: 1 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.  The race we are in is marked out for us.  It has been set before us by GOD.  Once we accept JESUS there’s no question on whether we will begin or even run the race but the true question is when will we begin?  Galatians 5:7 tells us how we can get side tracked:   You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?  There will be distractions along the race route engineered by the enemy who has no intentions of letting us complete our race without throwing everything at us to get us to drop out and shake our faith.

The race we’re in will be completed by nothing less than our perseverance.  This takes deter-mination, endurance and unfaltering Faith.  There is an ongoing call throughout the Bible for believers to persevere and keep running.  

We are to maintain our motivation regardless of the season we are in.  We have to live by Faith daily because this race is a lifelong test.  Quitting is not an option.   We fail the test when we put ourselves on the sideline away from our coach (GOD) and our resources (reading the word, Fasting, Bible study, Prayer and Fellowship) and think of quitting.    There isn’t one of us that haven’t faced challenges which didn’t push us away from the race and our focus.  But getting back in the race is where we find what we need to continue.  This is where our Faith is restored.

GOD is training champions.  We are champions/disciples in training.  HE knew we would at one time or another, even several times, in our lifetime lose our position in the race this is why we have a training manual (the Bible) and access to GOD through prayer so that we can press on and finish well.     

There are no blue ribbons or trophies, at the end of our race, our prize is eternal.    

KEEP THE FAITH!

GOD BLESS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, REMEMBER THE REASON 

FOR THIS SEASON

AND

CELEBRATE CHRIST'S BIRTH