RUN UNTIL THE RACE IS RUN

 

I am watching hundreds of marathon runners pass by on their way to the finish line. The 2 leaders were easily 1/4 to 1/2 a mile ahead of the pack. Yet every face is looking forward. Every face is marked with the determination to finish.

There are men and women, young and old with one goal in mind ... Finish the course.

Some are running hard, some at slower pace and some are walking but all are headed to the finish line.

There may be some in this natural race I am watching that will not finish because of conditioning or perhaps you could say a lack of mental and physical preparedness. I am reminded of some admonitions in scripture to, “Gird up the loins of your mind," "put on the helmet of salvation," be ready to "fight the good fight" and to "endure hardness as a good soldier" of Christ. We must realize there will be obstacles in our path; there will be battles to fight. If there were no battles we wouldn’t need armor, if there were nothing to overcome how would we become over comers to whom rewards will be given?

  

 

Thank God that in our race we have a well of strength to draw upon every moment of everyday. It is a well that never runs dry. Christ strengthens us and is our hope of glory. If we will continue to put one foot in front of the other we will finish. Jesus already won the race now we just run to finish our course. Someone once said, "As Christians we can't fail if we won't quit," the Bible says we "will reap if we faint not". Keep going.

 

 

I just saw two men go by that were tethered together. One was missing an arm, and being tethered to his friend was his balance, being helped by a brother, hmmmm?

 

I guess that's a pretty good example of how we need each other. Every member of the Body of Christ is important and we are linked together with "each joint" supplying its part. Here is a good place to point out those who are all along the course encouraging the runners. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of a great cloud witnesses and of running our race with patience or endurance. Though we can draw courage, strength and wisdom from the lives of those who have run the course before us, and we should. I want to bring our attention the Greatest Comforter and encourager of all.

 

Thank God for the Holy Spirit who dwells with us and in us, who never leaves us or forsakes us. He will be with you and I all the way to finish. Thank God that, “He that hath begun a good work in you (us) will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”.  God is working in each of us “both to will and to do of His good pleasure," which includes you and I overcoming, being victorious and fulfilling His plan for our lives. He wants us to finish our course. It’s just up to us to cooperate.

 

Enjoy the your journey today. You are not alone, call on Him, He will answer.

 

SELAH