Let us run with patience the race that is set before us...
Victorious Christian Race
As Christians we aren't only static believers. In fact, what the Scriptures tell us that we are runners running a race and that each should think and act like a competitor. Being second-best is not enough, we should strive to be the best in our personal service to God. It does not start and end up from believing and it's over. Definitely not.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." - Hebrews 12:1
God is never mistaken in calling and choosing us as a runner. Before the foundation of the world, He has chosen us (Ephesians 1:4). When our substance was still imperfect, everything was written when nothing has been done yet (Psalms 139:16). And this is amazing. From the womb of our mothers, God has known us more than we have known ourselves. And this is because of His omniscience as God. A calling fulfilled through the Gospel preached by His Sent Ones (2 Thessalonians 2:14). From then on, God is expecting us to run the race.
Christians life is not absent of development - or successes. And just like in the world, we must also aspire to excel in our service to God. We must run with all our strength, we must run with His grace, until we reach our prize (Romans 9:16).
HEAVENLY REWARD
People accept challenges for different reasons, but, in the world, all these reasons are only for the temporal things. Many people answers the challenges of life for vanishing accolades, for fading medals. For fame and glory that will only feed one's ego. Nothing less. Nothing more.
But Christians aspire not for the material rewards, but instead desire the spiritual and heavenly rewards - first and foremost of which is eternal life (1 Peter 1:9) and the high calling of knowing Christ (Phil. 3:14). This is the deepest desire of Apostle Paul. He even considered everything a loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. In which, he suffered much (1 Corinthians 15:10).
RUN STRAIGHT
Running alone is not enough. That is why Apostle Paul showed the Corinthians that he was not just running because it was the right thing to do, but he was running with focus. He did not just run, he ran in the best way that he could, meaning Paul served God in the right manner. The Bible declares in 2 Timothy 4:7,
"I have fought a good fight of faith..."
He did run but not in deceit nor cunningness. It was a good fight, yet with all the sufferings he had gone through, we could still see that it was because of God's grace (1 Cor. 15:10b).
"And every man that strives 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." - 1 Corinthians 9:25-26
We are runners of God, and we should do everything in such a manner that it glorifies God. Our whole life should be devoted to Him and so should each of our actions.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
EYES OF THE PRIZE
Like a real competitor we must desire to win. We shouldn't just join a race, or accept a challenge without wanting to win, that would be no good. Serving God is that same: we should desire to be used by God, we should pray for it. Athletes have goals and so should we, and we should keep our eye on the prize and not on the discouragements and hindrances of the enemy, like the material deceptions and satanic deceptions.
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:12
We shouldn't bother ourselves with the temporal things but should try and look forward, into the future and towards what we want God to do in us and what God can do to us. Going back to Hebrews 12:1. The Bible says that there are two things that we must do to win: first, lay aside every weight and second, run the race with patience. What is this weight? Is there a spiritual load that will make us disqualifies if we will continue on living to is? Yes, sin is a load that is too heavy to carry (Psalm 34:8) Sin will weaken our relationship with God and even the ministry we received from Him.
In the Guinness Book of Records there was an athlete who ran the race. He was known to be that good. When he was about to retire, he ran for the last time thinking that he will leave a legacy in the history of his career: But sad to say, he lost. For what reason? You will be surprised. There was that single pebble inside his shoe. And it's the same thing with us Christians, if we will live in sin, however small it may be, we will stumble, stop or even depart away from faith.
IMITATE WINNERS
Second, we must run with patience (Hebrews 12:1b). But how? We must know our calling. The Bible says;
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." - 2 Peter 1:10
Our calling was not from man but from the One who made the heavens and the earth. The One who formed you and me from the womb of our mothers. The One who made our salvation when we were in hopelessness and helplessness. The One who will judge in righteousness and truth in the appointed time.
RUN WITH PATIENCE
.jpg "image taken from yahoo.com")
We should surround ourselves with winners and good models. If we do, the good and wise things that they do, their behavior will be passed to us. We will imitate the things that are good and positive in them. When we spend time with winners, we start thinking and acting life winners. Just like the early apostles who spent time with Jesus."Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." - Acts 4:13
These heroes of faith became such when they fought and stood to what they believe is true according to the teachings taught by the apostles. Men and women who is their weaknesses never gave in, but fought to see in certainty that the work of God will grow whether it calls even for their life to offer. People who realized that life will only find its worth when lived for God's purpose and not for personal whims and desires. People who humbled themselves and found strength in the presence of God.
It happened in a 16-mile marathon race that Mamo Walde of Mexico won. But John Akwari of Tanzania fell and his leg soaked in blood. A medical staff tried to stop him, giving a warning that he may not be able to run for the rest of his life. But still, he ran. The crowd was dispersed after Mamo Walde stepped the finished like. And here came Akwari reaching the finish line. And the medical staff said, Why? For what reason did you insist on running?" Akwari said, "My country did not send me just to run the race, but finish the race whether I win or lose."
Are you running? Hurt by the pains of trials of life? Bruised by the sufferings of following Christ Jesus? Cheer up. We are called not just to run the race but FINISH THE RACE. The Scriptures says that, "Though we stumble, we will not lay down because the right hand of God is holding us..." We may have one thousand and one reasons to stop, but you know what? God is giving us one solid reason to go on. "I HAVE CHOSEN YOU." God called you and his calling is coupled with sufficient grace to see the finish life ahead of you in faith and trust.
