Running the Race

In the town from which I hail, a 10 k run would be held every year around the Fourth of July. Those of us along the route would sit on our porches, some would pass out water, and most would cheer on the tired, sweaty runners as they'd make their way towards the home stretch. We were closer to the end of the route than the beginning, so we got to see these athletes after they made their way along the old country road, up a hill or so and back towards the starting point, all on what would possibly be one of the hottest days of the year. They'd already heard the starting gun and set out, full of hope to be the first across the finish line; some had the sheer look of determination on their faces, while others had a look that said, "Why in the world did I EVER decide to DO this?!"

There was one woman in particular, whose presence basically signified that the race was over. Karen was her name. On the whole, people who watched the race made Karen the butt of jokes; she was overweight, always started out strong, yet ended up walking by the time she got to our home. Most people probably thought, "Why does she participate in this race every, single year? She always comes in dead last -- except for those who have dropped out -- and she always ends up walking. What is wrong with her?" Personally, I thought she was nuts. Who would want to set themselves up for this humiliation every year, anyway?

My mind was changed the year that I noticed that children around my age were allowed to run the race. There they were... the champions... the exhausted, yet still strong... and then finally, them. Them? Yes, there was Karen, again, dead last, walking past our home. Only that year, she was walking side-by-side with a young boy. I remember hearing her talking to the boy: "You're doing GREAT! You're going to make it all of the way to the finish! I'm so proud of you! It doesn't matter that you're not running; just make it to the finish." My opinion of her in that race changed that day, and from that year forward, every time I saw her bringing up the rear, I would cheer for her,,, honestly cheer for her. She taught me a lesson that year which came back to my mind late last night.

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. God does not care if we come in first in this race of life. What he cares about is that we finish the race we have signed on to run. When we said, "I accept you as my Lord and Savior, Jesus," we stated that we officially entered the race, and we would try our best to run it to completion. We may be spiritually overweight and out of shape, we may be Christians who are as strong as little children. We may fall in pot-holes along the road. We may hit rough patches, and sometimes we may have to change down the pace from a run, down to a slow crawl. As our feet hit the hot, unforgiving pavement, the air coursing through our lungs burns and we dream of water... cold, clear, water. Sometimes as we run this race of faith, we encounter those who ask, "Why do you even want to be a Christian, anyway? Why do you need that crutch? What are you, nuts?"

The wonderful thing is, God allows us to encounter those who have run this course that we're on; those who have run the race will encourage you and cheer you on just as you're ready to give up. They'll say, "I've been where you are, I was about to give up, myself, but I made it through, with the help of the Lord. Just keep pressing on, keep pressing on, you can DO it, you can MAKE it!"

He'll also give you His word, Himself. You'll be drawn to passages as Psalm 37:23-24: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand," and verse 34: "Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land..."

You'll read Proverbs 24:16 - "...A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked man shall fall by calamity," and you'll get the strength to get off of your knees to continue the race.

Isaiah 40:31 will spur you onward: "But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

You'll take comfort in Hebrews 12:1-2: "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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Yeah, the devil has thrown practically every road block in front of us imaginable. Yet, with the help of the Lord, we shall run on. We've been mocked for our relationship with the Holy One. Yet, with the help of the Lord, we shall run on. We don't need to come in first place; we just need to finish the race to succeed. We are surrounded by unseen witnesses, cheering us on to finish the race that the Lord has set before us. If God be for us, who can be against us? With the help of the Lord, we shall run, walk, crawl over the the roadblocks of the enemy, if we have to, to finish the race. And then, we will encourage other children in the Lord, and tell them with the highest assurance, "You can make it! Look, the finish line is just in sight! Don't give up! Don't give up! Don't... give... up."