Pat Davis writes from her home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can read more of her writing online at www.patjeannedavis.com. 

The writer of Hebrews likens the Christian life to a long distance race (Hebrews 12:1-3, NKJV). He exhorts believers to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” To run this marathon successfully, we must have faith in God and the promises in his Word. The Apostle says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him. . .” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV).

Use sustained effort

The race of faith, the most important race of our life, requires strict discipline to get into good shape. Anyone who has run long distances knows the feeling—from the top of your head to the soles of your feet, every nerve fiber throbs. During high school, my son ran track and cross country. Joshua trained three hours per day, performing sprints, running repeated miles and lifting weights. He trained to win. My son’s desire to run the best race possible affected what he ate and drank, how much he slept, and how he managed his time. The believer’s training too needs to be consistent. We need to work hard and to endure suffering.

The men’s and women’s marathon were among the events at the Summer Olympics Game. There some of the greatest athletes of all times ran to outperform their opponents. The modern Olympics have their roots in ancient Greece. The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of an athletic race to describe the Christian’s spiritual growth. He tells us, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection. . .” (See 1 Cor. 9:25-27. Also James 1:14-15).

Run unencumbered

Many of the Olympic athletes wear ultra high-tech track apparel that is aerodynamic and where less in design is more. These runners don’t want anything to slow them down or sap their energy. You and I won’t grow in faith, stop tripping over our sins and run the race successfully unless we lay aside every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily ensnares our progress (Heb. 12:1).

Ask yourself

How am I running the race of faith? What is slowing me down? Where are the time wasters?  How can I continue to grow? Am I digging deeply into God’s Word so when the unexpected comes, I can respond? Am I looking to Jesus and running to win? Our faith will grow as we attend to his Word and in obedience apply its precepts to our lives, make prayer a habit, and worship and fellowship with other believers. Remember you are precious in His sight and run your race.

Run lawfully

The Apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?” He encourages the believers in Corinth to “run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Cor. 9:24-25). Finishing well is everything. However, we are not to strive to win at any cost. In our day some runners have been involved in scandals and been accused of taking performance enhancing substances.

Integrity and conviction

“When I run I feel God’s pleasure,” said Eric Liddell. Born to Scottish missionaries living in China, Eric as a young boy went to Scotland and attended school and university there. He became that country’s acclaimed sprinter and their only chance for a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

In order to prepare for the Olympic track he was asked to run on Sunday—a day set aside for attending church and to worship God. He placed himself at a great disadvantage, but refused to run. He received criticism from his countrymen and the press. We shouldn’t be surprised the non-believing world is unsympathetic to the Christian’s values and way of living. We’re competing with the enemy of our souls.

During the week, Eric trained by running a 200 meter race and qualified to run in the 400 meter Olympic track. On the last day of the competition, Liddell went to the starting blocks. An opposing team leader handed him a note that read, “Those who honor me, I will honor.” With that piece of paper in hand, he ran to win. As Eric rounded the turn on the track where all the runners usually come together, he expected to see the world record holders ahead of him. He was there alone. He threw his head back even more than usual, pumped his legs as fast as he could and crossed the finish line, winning the gold medal. Eric achieved the highest glory, but not at the cost of sacrificing his commitment to God’s word. Let us run our race with integrity and conviction.

Putting aside all the fame, Eric accepted God’s further call on his life. He returned to China—a country no longer friendly to missionaries and at war. He taught chemistry to students, served the people with the gospel and cared for their needs during dangerous times, eventually dying in a Japanese prison camp.

In his book Made for His Pleasure, Pastor Alistair Begg, writes,“Pleasing God is not a matter of personal choice, but an imperative that must be taken seriously. In a world of self, we must give way to the priority of God if we want to experience His joy.”

Endurance

Are you dissatisfied with your course? Perhaps you are exhausted from doing too much. Perhaps your body presents a challenge with ailments that slow you down. Maybe your emotional and mental energy is failing as you battle to keep a positive outlook and trust God while getting further and further behind in your finances, relationships or your work. Keep in mind your heavenly father loves you and fully submit to the sovereign will of him who set your course. Focus on the finish and don’t give up.

The Christian life is a matter of endurance and struggle and difficulty. “Endurance is a key indicator of spiritual fitness,” said Begg. If you don’t run with endurance, you won’t get the prize. Endurance requires a particular mindset and a willingness to push past the pain. Avoiding the difficult is never good physically or spiritually and is a hindrance to our growth. When the track becomes too difficult and you are tempted to quit, read Acts 20:20-24; 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

I can be easily distracted by the cares of this life. Do you cherish a life-long dream—one that you’re convinced God placed in your heart? When the goal you’ve set for yourself seems unobtainable, remember our chief goal is to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. When your dreams are yet unrealized and you’re tempted to despair, pray for patient perseverance while you wait on his perfect timing.

We run with endurance by fixing our eyes on Jesus. Steven J. Cole, Pastor of Flagstaff (Arizona) Christian Fellowship, in an article titled Faith to Run The Christian Marathon, writes, “Fixing our eyes is literally looking off to. The idea is taking your eyes off of other things and focusing on Jesus alone.”

Don’t look back

Like a runner, I need a clear focus on where I’m going and a clear goal in mind. In Phil. 3:13, the Apostle Paul tells us he is “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” He shares the secret of his own success in verse 14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Refocus on Jesus and the joy of receiving the crown of righteousness that he has promised and run the race set before you.

Motivation

This is key to running a successful race.

Keep in mind our forebearers in the faith, the Old Testament saints, for encouragement. Read         again Hebrews 11. Remember the apostles and early Christian leaders, such as Timothy and Silas.

Call to mind faithful brothers and sisters in the Lord—those in our church family, teammates cheering us on. Consider these and many more who ran the race of faith They encourage you to do the same.

Above all, look to Jesus—the one with all power. Read again Heb. 12:3. As author and finisher of our faith, He gives everything needful. Let us continue to grow in faith, honor and look to Him and run to win. In these ways, you and I bring pleasure to God, and we will receive the crown that perishes not.