The Scriptures tell us that the Christian life is like running a race. The writer of Hebrews encourages weary runners, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Paul tells the Corinthian church “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” At the end of his life, Paul tells his Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4)
In the duration of a life-long race, weariness, injuries, discouragements, wrong turns, illnesses, and spiritual flagging can set us back. These are reasons we need the encouragement of Scriptures, the life-giving Holy Spirit, fellow-travelers, and sacred music. These all keep us focused, encouraged, determined, and striving for the end goal.
A good mental mantra for the run is “longing for heaven; looking to Jesus.” This comes from Hebrews 12:1-2, where we are encouraged to run, run, run while the great cloud of witnesses (all the heroes of the Christian faith listed in chapter 11) cheers us on and the seated on the throne Savior ministers to us. Say this over and over to yourself, and you have less chance of, as runners say, “hitting the wall”.
Many months back, you may have set goals for the new year. By now, you are race-weary and perhaps off course. Races require sacrifice, sweat, alarm clocks, and discipline. Is your race sloppy? Is your life full of excesses? Too much media, not enough sleep, time-wasters? Have you drifted from worship, Bible reading, meditation, prayer, and other habits of grace? A schedule too full?
I found a new year’s prayer a while back that begins like this, “Lord, as we arrive at the cusp of another year’s end, we feel reluctant to cross the finish line. For we ought to have run a better race. Both Thy record book of memory and ours of conscience, find us painfully lacking in Scripture’s balances.”
Paul challenges the church at Galatia in their run that has been hijacked by bad doctrine, “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5) He tells the Corinthian Christians as their church suffers from infighting, “Do not run aimlessly.”
Mark Twain, in his cynical wit, said of resolutions, “Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” With less than two months to go, long for heaven and look to Jesus, finishing your race and keeping the faith.