Read John 21:19-22; Hebrews 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; Philippians 3:12-16; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
The Apostle Paul compared life to a race. As with life, a race comes with many challenges. It may be long, have a series of inclines and declines, or be rainy. Just outright miserable! But with life’s race, everyone has their own course. Sometimes we look at somebody else’s course and think theirs is easier than ours. There are three keys to running our race well.
We must not compare ourselves with others. Second Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” In His infinite wisdom, God made the path for each individual. Our Creator fitted each of us with specific abilities, talents, and gifts so that we can run our race with success. That isn’t to say that difficulties won’t arise. But we each have our strengths and weaknesses. The Lord knows what temptations can potentially get us off course, so He has laid out a way for us to escape. Not to quit the race but to enable us to overcome the obstacles that He has foreseen from before the foundations of the world. If we look at another person’s track, we will lag behind in our own race. We must keep our eyes fixed on our path.
We must have the proper perspective. Psalms 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Before God formed us in the womb, He plotted our course. He planned who our parents would be, where we would be born, where He would have us live, etc. Surely, we were fearfully and wonderfully made! There has never been a time, nor will there ever be, that God loses control over His creation. It’s impossible. My former pastor had the proper perspective: “This world isn’t falling apart; it’s falling into place.” The Lord is with us every step of the way. I believe that the reason why God’s name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther is to give us an object lesson that demonstrates that the Lord Jesus Christ is still working even in the dark times. We often don’t see God’s hand in things because we aren’t looking for it. God is always in control. The word "oops" is not in His vocabulary! We can trust wholly in Him.
We must remember that God is the Author and Finisher of our faith. God is all for us finishing our race. The key is to keep our eyes on Him and to run with patience. I love the chorus of that hymn where the writer said, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." A couple of years ago, Pastor McGovern, my former pastor, preached a series out of Ecclesiastes. When we got to chapter seven at the beginning of verse eight, I was reminded of Hebrews 12:2. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the same, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Our Savior looked beyond the suffering He faced. A good Christian runner puts up spiritual blinders so that he can run well. He also keeps in mind the incorruptible crown he will obtain when he arrives home with the Lord and hears, “Well done!” This helps him run the race with patience. God was with us at the beginning of life’s race and will be with us at the finish line. He is always there beside us in between and, by His Holy Spirit, gives us spiritual refreshment. Throughout some places of Scripture, the Holy Spirit is pictured as water. God takes care of us, and He does it well. We are worth more to Him than many sparrows and all other creation put together, even though we are but dust. We should always stand in awe at the amount of grace and mercy the Lord gives us, especially when He doesn’t have to. We serve an extraordinary God. Keep running, Christian. And run your own race!
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