Keep Running the Race

No matter what situation you are walking through today, at work, at home, in your family life, marriage, ministry, or even with your health, God is right there with you, cheering you on from the side lines, like any loving parent at their child’s sport’s day.

As a ten-year-old, I remember winning the 100-metre sprint and coming off the field, but I didn’t have anyone to run to, as my parents could not attend. I remember the pain in my heart of feeling I didn’t have support or anyone to celebrate me and my achievement like the other kids had. It was a pain which went deep and something which the Lord brought to my attention years later in order for healing to come. I understand now that my heavenly Father was, is, and will be cheering me on in the race marked out for me, and He is doing the same for you.

Looking at Hebrews 12:1, it is interesting to note that the Lord isn’t the only witness to us running the race. The ‘witnesses’ mentioned is the word ‘Martyron’ in Greek, which means martyr, or eye, or ear, witness, someone who has first-hand knowledge or experience of an event or truth. Many commentaries suggest that it refers to the saints who have gone before us who are cheering us on from heaven. That is a precious thought.

We are encouraged to throw off anything that would slow us down or hinder us, including sin which can trip us up. I remember running a 100-metre sprint again, this time as a twelve-year-old alongside almost a hundred other girls. Focusing so much on the finish line, I didn’t see the hurdle that everyone was avoiding, and which was directly in front of me. I actually ran into it, breaking it, and getting splinters and cuts in my stomach. I was truly hindered and knocked out of the race that day.

A good lesson learnt. May our focus not be so much on getting to the finish line that we miss the things in our immediate path which can trip us up or hinder us. It could be a friendship which has become controlling, an addiction which is hard to shake, or a bad attitude or judgement of someone, leading to bitterness and unforgiveness. The journey to the destination is just as important as where we are going in relation to the lessons and character-building which takes place along the way.

Let us persevere, run the race, throw off sin, and the things which hinder and distract along the way and, with God’s help, be able to echo what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT), ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.