The Apostle Paul compares a Christian with an athlete training for and running a race. “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1) God has laid out the course for us and given us our own lane in which to run. Unlike the Olympics or other track and field races, we are not competing against others. Actually, paying attention to how others are running their race will distract us and slow down our own progress. We are to run our own race at the pace God has set for us with the strength and endurance He provides. Our goal is to reach the finish line, not to set a world record or beat someone else’s time.
I have pointed out many times that my race has been more like a marathon than a dash. Endurance is a necessity if we want to make it across the finish line and claim our prize. We must not overlook the fact that there are often hurdles in our lane that must be cleared. Most of them are low hurdles the enemy has placed in our path just to trip us up or discourage us. Sometimes it is God who places a hurdle in our lane, especially when we become overconfident in our own ability and strength, just to remind us that we are not running this race under our own strength, but by the power of His Spirit within us.
I was not a star athlete in high school, but I loved participating in sports. I learned that the secret of running the hurdles is to take them in stride as you keep moving forward at a constant pace. If you slow down or speed up as you approach a hurdle, it will throw your timing off and you won’t be able to clear it and that could trip you up and even take you out of the race. As we run the unique course God has prepared for each of us, we must maintain the steady pace He has set for us so we can take the hurdles we encounter in stride. Clearing hurdles requires endurance. Without endurance that last hurdle may as well be ten feet high. My race is actually the leg of a relay because I will be passing the baton to the next generation of Christians as I cross my finish line.
As I draw closer to the end of my race, I want to be able to proclaim with the Apostle Paul, “I press on to reach the finish line where I will receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14) Then as I cross my finish line I can say with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:7)