I did not play sports growing up but my oldest daughter did play volleyball and basketball in high school. I loved and still love going to high school games and watching the competitions. There is so much that goes into participating in a sport- lots of practicing, training (both mental and physical as well as in-season and off-season training), working as a team together, stats, commitment, communication… the list goes on and on.
The apostle Paul uses the example of running a race to talk about our spiritual journey in 2 Corinthians 9:24-27: “24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
As we run with Jesus, there are challenges that come with this race. Paul points out to us that this Christian life is not an easy race, it requires commitment and discipline. Time and practice; maybe, probably, more time and commitment than I am putting in right now.
Another challenge is that this race raises the possibility of failure- the idea that not everyone will win. Being a loser is not on my to-do or to-be list and most of my friends know that I am a fairly competitive person. I like to win but there are lots of times that I lose, and I get knocked down a notch or two. Sometimes I lose in a competition because I wasn’t strategic enough, or I missed a step, or I didn’t think far enough ahead.
Humility is a muscle that has to be worked and trained. When I get to the point that I can tell God that I need His help, that is where we can start making progress. I like to think that I am a pretty self-reliant person; we live in a generation where our ability to be an individual and to make our own path is rewarded and celebrated but God invites me to be in process with Him, molding and shaping me into a person who looks more like Him than myself. Sometimes, I think that I would like to magically be and do everything perfectly but if that were the case, I would miss out on the relationship and growing with Jesus in the day to day renewing of my mind and spirit.
The other side of the fear of failure coin is the hope of winning! Discipline, commitment and confidence all play a role in keeping our hopes up. I must keep in mind that I am not disqualified to enter this race with Jesus because what I have done or not done in the past. The only requirement for starting is that I have faith in Him and choose to follow where He leads. The best part of running in step with Jesus is (spoiler alert) that He wins!
In Hebrews 12 we get a glimpse into more of the imagery of running the race. “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, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
I love how this section of verses starts out, that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses… Even though our race is an individual race, we are not alone in the race. We have people around us and who have gone before us that have run the race before us or are on the race themselves. That is a comfort to me and I hope that it is for you too.
Pastor Isaac told a story in his message about when he was younger and did a work/study program at a ranch in South Dakota. He loved to ride the fastest horse on the property and one day they were going to round up some of the other horses to go to work. As he was riding, his horse just couldn’t keep up and catch the other horses, even though he was the fastest. He tried to throw off Isaac to lighten his load but Isaac stayed in the saddle and they didn’t end up catching the other horses that day.
My problem is that sometimes I like to bring all my old baggage into the race with me, I carry some of the grudges and guilt from my past and let those things weigh me down as I am running. When I see that the race is getting harder or that I am getting tired faster, the first thing I do is take a look at what I have been carrying around with me. Am I listening to the voices of my past a little too much or am I digging into God’s word and letting Him renew my mind? Repent and turn away from the sin that so easily (and sneakily) entangles.
Running with Jesus is not a sprint, it is a long-distance run. I must continue to run even when it is difficult, and someone else’s race looks easier. I fall into that comparison trap too often but when I am looking at someone else, I am not looking at Jesus. That is the key- to keep my eyes on Jesus who is the author (beginning) and perfector (ending) of my faith.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 “6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
The goal of to finishing my race is to keep the faith, to have kept my eyes on Jesus. He has laid up a prize beyond my comprehension- a crown of righteousness. Not just a buckle or a trophy that lasts for a few generations but an eternal crown. I want to get to the end of my race and to be told, “well done, good and faithful servant!”
