I love to run! I learned that running was special to me last year. Since then, I have been running, running, running as much as I can (and is smart). You may or may not like to run, but the ideas of running apply to life in many ways. For example, running builds the character quality of endurance. Yes, runners must endure the physical hardships of their sport, but running is also a huge mental game. A great runner’s mind must remain focused on the goal when the body is tired.
God’s Word proclaims something that will change your mindset of your entire life whether you consider yourself an avid runner or the only running you have ever done is getting to shelter from a sudden rain shower. The statement is found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, “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. 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.” Believe it or not, we are all running the race of life, and we are all running for something.
For what are you running?
Some people run the race for a crown that will not last: riches, pleasure, fame, reputation. You may be one of those people. Maybe you did not even know you were in a race. You live life one day to the next with no thoughts about the God who created you, the purpose He has for your life, or the destination of your immortal soul. Non of the crowns you strive to wear upon this earth in the forms of money, popularity, or belonging are eternal, but you are only concerned with the here and now. The question you must ask yourself is what is the meaning of crowns that will rust or fade away?
Is there a crown that will not fade away, that is eternal? The answer is yes! There is an eternal crown that is only found by choosing to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This crown is not earned but given by God out of the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7 and 2:8-9). That eternal crown is salvation, being saved by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross from death and ultimately an eternity apart from God in hell. Salvation does not end there.
When Jesus rose from the dead three days later, He made it possible for anyone who believes in Him to spend eternity in Heaven with Him. When a person believes in Jesus Christ, everything changes. Their view of the world shifts dramatically because they are no longer unconsiously running in this race or striving to earn a crown that will not last. Instead, they run with the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2), and in Christ their strength is found (Philippians 4:13). For the believer, life becomes about running the race for Jesus at every bend and curve, hill or valley, pit or mountain.
The Next School Year
For many a new part of the race is speedily approaching or has already begun- the school year. For some the new school year is a time to buff up their reputation or increase their popularity. It is the perfect occasion to start fresh and achieve new accomplishments for others. For still more, kids particularly, they crave and end up exasperated from trying to get good grades or meet the status quo for the affirmation of others and the admiration of people they respect. For all these people, this year of the race starts off with this mindset of overwhelming expections and pressure. All of these goals are shaky foudations on which to build a life, yet everyone is seceptible of taking their eyes off of Jesus and setting their hopes on these things instead, especially myself.
I want to encourage you today to seriously ponder the implications of Hebrews 12:1-2a, “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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” We must fix our eyes on Jesus during all of life.
Implications of Hebrews 12:1-3
If you are an unbeliever, that might mean repenting of your sinful rejection of Jesus Christ and receiving the gift that He freely offers- the eternal crown. All you have to do is choose to believe in Him and accept this gift, a gift of redemption and restoration for which He paid the price upon the cross. Ask Him to come into your life. If you are already a believer, this passage might mean repenting of sin that has distracted you from loving Jesus with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength in order to fix your eyes on Him again and keep them fixed.
“Jesus replied: ‘”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”‘”~Matthew 22:37
For me, I think I can apply the encouragement in Hebrews 12 to my life by asking the Holy Spirit to help me remember that as wonderful as excelling in schoolwork and extra-curriculars are, Jesus is the one who matters most. If I am not running this year of the race for Him, non of it matters. I can easily become obsessed and overwhelmed with achieving the best grades or juggling so many things on my plate that some must be removed, but I must fix my eyes on Jesus and remember His beautiful invitation to, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). Rest for our souls is what Jesus offers.
Fixing Our Eyes:
When I run, I have to fix my eyes on the prize of finishing the run. Sometimes, I practice running fast by doing speed workouts. These workouts are part of my training. My goal in doing them is not to run as fast as I can every single repetition, but the goal is to build my speed over certain distances or periods of time, so that I can run faster longer. It would be easy to run harder in my speed training instead of smarter, but I have to fix my eyes on the goal: to run faster longer. We must do the same thing by the power of the Holy Spirit inside of us in different aspects of our lives.
Unsatisfied Vs. Satisfied
It might be tempting this school year of the race to run for the temporary crown of good grades, a work promotion, or regularly keeping a clean house. Easily, we can obsess over these things! None of them are bad goals or accomplishments, but not if they distract us from Jesus. Besides, if we run for these things without fixing our eyes on Jesus above all else, we are running for temporary crowns that will never satisfy us.
Jesus says, “…whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Regular water nurishes our bodies only on this earth, but drinking the water that Jesus gives us completely satisifies and leads to eternity with Him. For a believer in Christ, we have drunk this water and and running the race with our eyes on this prize. Our goal along the way to our destination is to glorify God in all that we do.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~Matthew 6:33
Ecouragement:
Girls, remember to always stay focused on Jesus and press into Him. When friends disappoint, Jesus is the best friend. He will provide exactly what you need at just the right time. Moms, remind your daughters when they are overwhelmed at school that God has a greater eternal plan for their lives than simply getting good grades. Jesus loves and values their souls so much more than their grades.
When your sons are angry because they cannot seem to excel in their sports, remind them to press into the Lord. Sports may a part of God’s plan for them, but they are running a race of much larger proportions than a Cross Country course. Moms, when you cannot keep the house clean, Jesus cares for you. He does not look at the appearance of your house, but your heart (1 Samuel 16:7). The house can always be cleaned, but the ministry you have has a mother is right now. God can give your souls rest when you are exhuasted or discoraged as you press into Him.
Jesus is Everything!
Wherever you are in the race, seek God and you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Come to Him and find rest for your souls. Remember that you are running a race. “Run in such a way as to get the prize,” and fix your 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.” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is the only one that truly matters, so let’s do all that we do for His glory and remember when we are overwhelmed at school, work, or home that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
For more reading, read John 4:1-42. Open the Bible, which is the Word of God, and spend some time reflecting on God’s amazing grace and mercy. All verses in this blog post are taken from the NIV translation.
