The Race Set Before Us.

We are running a race. It’s a race to the end. Each day we train, each day we rest and each day we do it all over again. The race has begun and we are not to the finish line.
Too many times people think that at the time that you accept Jesus Christ as Lord, that the race is over. They think that now that the light has come to them and they have received a revelation of truth, that they are done, and now have entered that final rest.
Wrong! The race has just begun. Now it’s time to become that different person in Christ Jesus. That new creation, that you are, is now training for the Olympics. You are a competitor in a race for your life and for the lives of those around you. As you run there is fatigue, there is resistance, there are holes to stumble in across the track. However, it is not time to fall and stay down. It is time to get up, dust yourself off, shake out the pains and keep running.
“The race is not to the swift” Eccl. 9:11. The race instead is to those who persevere, who have their spiritual muscles exercised, who can therefore endure the trials, the temptations, the hardships and keep the faith.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” I Cor. 9:24. In this case, if we all run in such a way, we may all receive the prize. This advice is from one who knew the race intimately. He knew that most would sit down thinking that their hope of eternal salvation was the prize. Wrong again! The hope of eternal salvation is the hope of eternal salvation. It is what you are running for. It is the reason why you are running. It is not the prize! If we would take the advice of Paul we would all be mighty Christians living in the power of God, changing the world everyday, one person at a time. But alas, he also knew that we would not run the race properly, thus the reason for the encouragement.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1. When you take Jesus as your Lord, you have begun the race. Jesus endured His race and it was called a ‘joy set before Him.’ Our race is a joy set before us, as well. We must endure the race upon our track that God has ordained for us, yet first, we must get in the race.
If we are weighed down and can’t run very fast, then we are to lay aside those things which hinder us and the sin which so easily ensnares us, albeit, television, food, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, anger, malice, jealousies, or selfish-ambition. Even people that we know might be a hindrance to our race, growth and development. The Lord has told me to stay away from some people and the word bears this out in Proverbs and I Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived, ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” And we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
These all must be relinquished for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Paul continues as he says that if we get tired then continue to look toward the author and finisher of your faith, who is Jesus. He endured and so can we.
It is a race with pits, ruts, turns, curves, valleys and hills, and sometimes a mountain, however, we have a mighty supernatural God who is for us in all our race. So who or what can be against us. Keep the faith and run, enduring all, so that we can finally say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Tim. 4: 7,8.
All who are in the race and fight the good fight will win the prize. Say to the Lord today as Abraham said, “Here I am.” Make yourself available to run and work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It’s the most serious race you will ever run. Amen.