The Race to Finish

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Focus Verse: Hebrews 12:1  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."

Maybe you have noticed when you watch a race, some runners start out very fast.  But if it is a long race, those runners may become too tired to finish the race well.  Because they have not paced themselves, they either quit the race early or finish with a poor time.  Smart runners don't carry backpacks or luggage when they run.  No, they have just the clothes they need to wear and a good pair of running shoes.

The apostle Paul compares the Christian life to a race.  He says "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."  As I work in ministry in Kenya, I know that all of Africa will not be saved through my own efforts,  but I do know that God will help me disciple some to follow Him.  Some of those will, in turn, also make new disciples.  This can branch out like a tree of runners. 

So we pace ourselves in this Christian life to do what God enables us to do.  Paul has also told us to take off the backpack of anything that slows us down, but especially sin so that we can run this race strong.  Ineffective Christians are carrying the luggage of sin or other weights on their backs.  Paul says strip it off, get rid of the things that weight you down.  In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."  He encourages us to finish the race strong.

When we come to the end of our life, let us be able to say as Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful."  Are you a disciple ... running?

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries