Finish the Race

Today was the Lincoln Marathon (in Lincoln, NE). My husband went to cheer on his buddies that participated in the marathon. Greg mapped out the route, so he could try to meet them on the various points of the race...to encourage them & he even ran along with the guys for a couple of blocks.

As he was sharing this with me this afternoon, I thought about the race that we believers participate in. At the end of Paul's life, he wrote to Timothy and declared that "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul had a sense of victory and confidence that he had finished the race well. He ran with all his might, never stopping until he had reached the goal! There were many distractions along the way for Paul: he faced rejection from friends and churches, he had been beaten brutally several times, he was shipwrecked 3 times, and yet Paul was not moved off course. Why? Because he knew what his race was that he had to complete. Paul even writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." Paul looked at his circumstances as "light and momentary". His eyes were on the prize! He was heaven bound and his prize was Jesus, his joy and strength.

How about you? Do you know what the race is that you are to complete? Paul knew exactly what he was called to run and he didn't look at anyone else's course. Nothing could stop him from running his race. What has God called you to do with your life? If someone asked you to define your "assignment" from the Lord, would you be able to give an answer?

If you are not sure, spend some time asking the Lord what it is that He has called you to do. Each person has a unique call on their life, so it will look different for everyone. Keep your eyes focused on Christ & He will give wisdom & revelation. And the wonderful thing that God has given us is those who have gone before us; who have run their race well & stayed the course. They give us encouragement to do the same. Just like Greg was there today to encourage his friends on their physical race....spiritually, we are not left alone--to do it on our own. We have our community of friends to "spur us on" and the Word of God to give the examples of those godly men & women who "fought the fight and ran the race".

We are encouraged in Hebrews 12:1 "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."