“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of tnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12:1 ESV)
The other night I happened to be watching a special on TV about “The South”
or “Dixie” and a lot of the things associated with that area of our country.
Just to let you know, I’m “Southern” by birth and proud of it. In fact, I
believe the Earth is a Southern planet. One of the commentators was a famous
race car driver who talked, of course, about car racing in the South. The
thought of “racing” started my editorial engine running and our lesson this
morning is a direct by-product of my “engine’s” thought output.
You know, as Christians, we’re all running a race. I’m going to go way out
on a limb here and call it “The Race Of Life.” There are some interesting
aspects about this race and I think we should talk a few moments about them.
First of all, we’re running a race in which we don’t know the distance
involved. So we therefore don’t know how long we’ll be running. We only know
that once we start our Christian race we don’t stop until the end. The end, of
course, is when our earthly life comes to its end - death.
Another thing about this race that we can know is that there is a
“prize” awarded after its completion. (1Cor.9:24-27) But, there are
rules involved in our race and the passage cited in 1Corinthians basically tells
us that the only prize-winners are those who follow the rules. Now here’s an
interesting point about the rules: God sets the rules of the race because it is
He that awards the “prize.”
Many runners like to set their own rules, don’t they? But, Paul says there
that the prize-winners have to run “exercising self-control in all things.”
That simply means that we are to make our will subject to His Will, or in
other words, run according to the rules “the race set before us.”
We’ll talk more about the “prize” later.
Let’s look at some more details about our life’s race. What are we running
on? Well, the track on which we’re running is this world. And, allegorically,
just as the world isn’t all flat and smooth, neither are our lives. As the
earth has its hills and valleys, IE: highs and lows, so likewise do our lives.
We have our highs & lows, our ups & downs. We run through hills and
valleys, don’t we?
Do you realize what running on an uneven track makes this kind of race?
Yes, an endurance race. We could probably even describe it as an “obstacle
course” or perhaps even a “steeple-chase.” In other words, we’re not racing to
see who is faster, our goal is to finish the race and not let the obstacles of
the world cause us to drop out. See, it’s the “finishers” who “ran” according
to the rules that gain the “prize.”
There’s another Biblical word that fits with this thought of the type of
race we’re engaged in and how we’re running it. “Endurance” is the
word used in the opening cited passage while the KJV uses the word
“patience.” When we look at all the obstacles, the impediments, the
world puts in our way it’s easy to see why we have to have “patience,”
isn’t it?
And, these “impediments” are pretty much the same that all of us face while
going through life. In general, we have the “world problems” such as we’re
witnessing almost on a daily basis here lately. Things that have an effect, in
general, on everyone. But, each of us also have those “impediments” that are
specific and individual in our personal lives. It’s these things that Paul is
referring to when he says that we’re to “exercise control in all
things.”
Let’s return to some additional thoughts regarding “the prize”
before we wrap up this little lesson. In Romans the 2 chapter, verses 6-11 we
find some words of Paul that I feel fits with his words regarding the race.
Please read them for yourself as I pull out a few points to consider with our
topic today.
“He” will reward “to each one” (the runners of life’s
race) “according” to their “works” - (IE: how they ran.)
Those who “by patience in well-doing” (followed the rules) will receive
“eternal life.” But, those who are “self-seeking” (make their
own rules) and “don’t obey the truth” (The Rules) will receive
“wrath and fury.” In other words, their running will have been done in
vain. As to the national makeup of the runners, Paul says that it doesn’t
matter as long as they run for “glory, honor and peace and who does
good” (are righteous runners) because God is an impartial judge.
So then, what’s the “prize” for which we’re running to obtain?
Simply put: “eternal life.” Now there’s something to consider here
too. All runners are going to live eternally somewhere. Christians are running
for the “prize” of living eternally “in heaven.” The runners
who do not finish the race “faithfully” (2Tim. 4:7) are going to be
awarded “wrath and fury” for eternity. Doesn’t sound like the
“prize” I want to get after finishing my race.
Rather, I’d like to echo the words of Paul in regards to finishing his
personal race. Read them with me here as we close our thoughts for today.
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the
time of
my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have
finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for
me the
crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will
award
me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved
His
appearing.” 2Tim. 4:6-8 (ESV)
Ron Covey
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