Running your race

I wanted to share a recent experience that I think helps put into perspective the way we so often live our lives. The other day I went on a bike ride and while I was riding my bike the Lord was speaking to me about the way I journey through life. So often I find myself questioning why I am where I am in my life, and also my journey with Christ. I quickly get distracted from what I am trying to accomplish because I take my focus off of Christ and fix my eyes on other people and there journey. When I focus on other people and what they are doing or accomplishing I lose reality that their calling and purpose is different than mine. Although we may be going in the same direction, there speed will never be the same as mine throughout the whole race. While I was on my bike I often looked up to give a friendly nod to those that were also riding there bikes. Sometimes I would get a quick glance, sometimes a smile but most often I found those that were dedicated to bike riding were completely fixated on finishing their race or ride. Those people were not distracted by what others were doing or the pace they were riding at. There primary goal was to keep focused on the race that was set before them and the pace they were maintaining. The finish was there primary focus. When we get distracted in our own personal lives, it's so often because we are comparing ourselves to other people and we take our eyes off of the final destination. Christ is the prize that we all strive for, he is the finish line of the race called life. In Hebrews chapter 12:1 it says Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, 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. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. What does it mean to run with endurance, well the dictionary says endurance is the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions. Throughout this life there will be setbacks that keep us from moving forward at the speed we want. The race of life isn't so much as to how fast we run but that we finish the race. If we look again at Hebrews 12:1 it says Jesus is the champion of the race. He has already shown us as an example that if we keep focused on the prize that completing the race is indeed possible. The end of the race for him was entering back into Glory in the presence of his father.If you think of a marathon runner, they endure cramps fatigue and other mental blocks throughout the race. Most of them will tell you no matter what don't stop. It's always harder to start again once you have stopped for rest. Your body shuts down and it's virtually impossible to get your mind behind starting again. So if you take nothing else from this, run your race. Help others when you can by encouraging them and motivating them but no matter what, fix your eyes upon Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the one and only one who will help you run your race and finish the course set before you. The apostle Paul wrote often throughout the new testament about how symbolic life was to a race. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace ( Acts 20:24.) In the book of 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul also wrote, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. Paul said If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. Jesus didn't give Pauls specific task to anyone else, therefore no one else could have ran Paul's race for him. Just like only you can run your God specific race! My questions to you are, how are you running your race that has been set before you? Are you allowing other people to dictate the speed you run at or are your eyes fixed on Jesus? What sin may be distracting you from running your race with endurance? Lastly, who can you surround yourself with to help you with encouragement so you finish the race of life and stay the course set before you?