Today my son, who runs distance events, competed in the first track meet of this season. It was special because last year his high school didn’t have a track to even practice on. Today the school and our community celebrated the newly built track and the first event to utilize it. At the humble ribbon cutting ceremony previous track record holders from the school were honored. Another special aspect is that among those recognized was my nephew, a sprinter, who graduated in 2015 and holds the local track record for the 100 meter and 200 meter events.
Running reminds me of the race of life we are all a part of. There are no spectators. If you are alive, you are running this race. What kind of race are you running? Are you moving toward God or running from him? If you desire to run closer to God by faith for the unsurpassed reward of knowing him and enjoying his everlasting, abundant life, here are some beneficial considerations.
Run the Right Race
Left to themselves people run their own race, but it leads nowhere. Some people are running from problems, relationships, responsibilities, or accountability seeking escape. Some people are running to relationships, achievements, knowledge, or power hoping to find fulfillment. Some people are running a race of faith, but they are on the wrong track. They are misguided because the object of their faith is themselves, family or friends, humanism, religion, science, or success. Yet the only race that matters. The only one that leads to eternal reward is the one marked out for you by God (Hebrews 12:1; Romans 2:6-11). God created you and loves you. He has designed the best life for you which is being with him, becoming like him, and doing what he does. Jesus, God the Son, makes that life possible. Anyone who trusts and obeys Jesus receives him as their reward and life (John 1:12, 3:16-21, 10:10, 14:6). Even though it may involve hardship it is worth it (Romans 8:31-39). Nothing in this world can compare to having a personal relationship with God (Romans 8:18; Philippians 3:7-11). In the Bible, the writer of Hebrews, encourages believers in this race of faith. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses [people of faith who have gone before us], 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Throw Off What Hinders
If you’ve decided to run the only race that matters by placing your faith in Jesus, don’t let anything hold you back. Trying to run with a burden of weight on your back or with shackles around your ankles will prevent you from running well. Throw off any wrongdoing or harmful habits by confessing them to God, receiving his cleansing forgiveness, and then relying on his power and grace to live rightly (1 John 1:9). Let go of relationships or pursuits which pull you from God (2 Corinthians 6:14; Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 3:5-6, 16:3). Learn the truth of God’s word, and don’t let false teachers or wrong thinking cut in on your race (Psalm 1; Galatians 5:7). Use the time, talents, treasure, and tasks God has entrusted to you in ways that help you and others draw closer to him (2 Corinthians 5:14-21; John 6:27). The apostle Paul held this view, “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).
Run by Faith Not by Sight
The race of faith in Jesus is more of a marathon than a sprint. It spans the rest of your life and requires perseverance, commitment, and endurance. In fact faith consists of hope, loyalty, trust, and obedience. Successful distance runners set short goals along the course to keep progressing even when their body aches and the finish line is not in sight. Likewise in the race of faith, work with excellence toward the next right thing which God shows you, even though you may experience difficulty, have questions or doubts, or may not see his grander purpose (2 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 3:23-24). Fix your eyes on Jesus, who for the joy of seeing people saved, humbly endured the cross and innocently bore our sin. When you face hardship and suffering remain faithful—keep joyfully running as you carry the love and truth of God to others. As you do God sustains you, transforms you into the likeness of Jesus, and works through you to save others. Thus the goal of faith’s race is not so much a destination as it is a process. It is more than reaching heaven, it is relying on God, no matter what happens, to become all you are meant to be in Jesus now and forever.
Paul encouraged believers along this line. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay [the truth of God’s love and salvation] to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:7-18).
Run with Others
In your race of faith in Jesus, realize that you don’t run alone. Many other believers have gone before you (Hebrews 11:1-12:1). Also many believers today are running the race with you so you can equip and encourage each other. As followers of Jesus they are collectively called, the church. Prayerfully join with these other believers to sing God’s praises, study his word, share his truth, serve all people, stand in the gap to intercede, and stay dependent on God. In addition to other believers God has also given you his Spirit to comfort, encourage, counsel, train, and empower you to become like Jesus (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:13-15). Surrender your physical desires, emotions, attitudes, preferences, goals, and will to his divine guidance. He will point you to Jesus to satisfy your deepest soul needs. He will also help you perfect your faith so you run rightly (Ephesians 5:18).
Conclusion
Everyone is running either from something, to something, or in circles. How are you running? Where are you going? The race you run determines the quality of your life, your impact on others, and your destiny. Jesus exhorted people, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-15). The narrow gate he is talking about is himself (John 10:8). He is the way, the truth, and the life and no one can come to know God except through Jesus (John 14:6). Place your faith in Jesus and your race will not be in vain. You will experience abundant life with God now and forever and you will be able to help others run the right race also—the race of faith in Jesus. Like Paul, I encourage you to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).