Going for the Gold
28/06/09 11:33
I was talking to my
son, Dan, last week and he was telling me that he was
training again for another marathon. For those of us
who only consider “marathon” as a place
to get gas for your car, I would like to remind you
that a marathon is a race where the competitors run
for twenty-six miles! Ugh!
Can you imagine that? People actually train to run; it’s as though they like doing it or something. I don’t even run to the mailbox. The only time I think running would be desirable would be if I was running from danger, or to be first in the buffet line. Running, run, runs, ran; all of these words are associated with bad and uncomfortable things, so how could running a race be good? Ladies’ mascara runs, their stockings run, and getting the runs is no fun. Look at the folks who run for office. Oh, enough of all this silly talk about running –it’s starting to make me tired.
These marathon runners do have a purpose though. They not only compete against one another, but also against the race itself. The marathon is one of the most grueling, if not the toughest race known to man. The runner must have some sort of heart for the sport. There has to be some kind of desire to compete in this way. How else do you explain the extreme taxing of their physical endurance?
Why would anyone put himself or herself through the battle of their whole being like that, if they didn’t get something in return? Running a marathon doesn’t just put stress on the body, but the mind as well. There comes a point in the race where runners “hit the wall” and they want to just quit.
But each runner knows (and believe me, I don’t) that if they press on, if they stick it out, if they run through that invisible field of emotional attack –they’ll run through the “wall.” Once they are on the other side their energy levels increase and their determination is enhanced. They feel they could go all the way and sometimes their speed even increases. The finish line is in their sights and their reward awaits them. There are all kinds of “marathons” in life and I’m not just talking about foot races.
For instance, each born-again Christian is running a marathon Home. They began their race when they surrendered their lives to Christ and it won’t be finished until they kneel before Him and He puts the Crown of Life upon their heads. The race doesn’t go to the swift, but to him who endures until the end.
This marathon lasts longer than twenty-six miles but one thing is for sure –you don’t have to run it alone! In fact, it is not by might, nor by power that the Christian finishes this race, but by the Spirit of God. Which is a good thing, because God has a greater desire for us to finish the race than we do. This means that when you “hit the wall” you do not have to rely on yourself, but on Him who upholds you all the way.
Drawing near to God in hard times only enhances His Presence after you go through them. He renews your strength, you will run and not grow weary, you will walk and not faint! You will feel like “running your last mile Home.” May I remind all of us what the Apostle Paul told the Galatians. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Have a great week!
Pastor Jim
Can you imagine that? People actually train to run; it’s as though they like doing it or something. I don’t even run to the mailbox. The only time I think running would be desirable would be if I was running from danger, or to be first in the buffet line. Running, run, runs, ran; all of these words are associated with bad and uncomfortable things, so how could running a race be good? Ladies’ mascara runs, their stockings run, and getting the runs is no fun. Look at the folks who run for office. Oh, enough of all this silly talk about running –it’s starting to make me tired.
These marathon runners do have a purpose though. They not only compete against one another, but also against the race itself. The marathon is one of the most grueling, if not the toughest race known to man. The runner must have some sort of heart for the sport. There has to be some kind of desire to compete in this way. How else do you explain the extreme taxing of their physical endurance?
Why would anyone put himself or herself through the battle of their whole being like that, if they didn’t get something in return? Running a marathon doesn’t just put stress on the body, but the mind as well. There comes a point in the race where runners “hit the wall” and they want to just quit.
But each runner knows (and believe me, I don’t) that if they press on, if they stick it out, if they run through that invisible field of emotional attack –they’ll run through the “wall.” Once they are on the other side their energy levels increase and their determination is enhanced. They feel they could go all the way and sometimes their speed even increases. The finish line is in their sights and their reward awaits them. There are all kinds of “marathons” in life and I’m not just talking about foot races.
For instance, each born-again Christian is running a marathon Home. They began their race when they surrendered their lives to Christ and it won’t be finished until they kneel before Him and He puts the Crown of Life upon their heads. The race doesn’t go to the swift, but to him who endures until the end.
This marathon lasts longer than twenty-six miles but one thing is for sure –you don’t have to run it alone! In fact, it is not by might, nor by power that the Christian finishes this race, but by the Spirit of God. Which is a good thing, because God has a greater desire for us to finish the race than we do. This means that when you “hit the wall” you do not have to rely on yourself, but on Him who upholds you all the way.
Drawing near to God in hard times only enhances His Presence after you go through them. He renews your strength, you will run and not grow weary, you will walk and not faint! You will feel like “running your last mile Home.” May I remind all of us what the Apostle Paul told the Galatians. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Have a great week!
Pastor Jim
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