Today’s Devotion
Topic: Determined To Run The Race Ahead! (Part 1)
Text: Hebrews 12: 1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Amen.
On this first day of febuary, we begin a new series today on being determined to run the race ahead. The aim is to get us focused on running our christian race without fail. Do not miss even a day’s message and your life is never the same again. Let us begin by trying to understand how come the Christian faith is also seen as a race.
THE CHRISTIAN RACE:
One thing that is for sure is that our Christian walk, or life in general, is very much like the disciplines of sports; particularly athletics. The Christian journey is likened to a race by the author of the book of Hebrews. For the purpose of our discussion, we choose to liken the Christian journey not to every race but SHORT DISTANCE RACING (Especially the 100m hurdle race). This is because life itself is relatively “short”, and none of us knows the time or day ours will end. We don’t have all day to decide which pace we will go and still make it to the finish line on time.
Now back to the question, why is the christian journey likened to a race in the first place? It is a race because:
i. There is a distance to cover, and limited time to do so (like a 100m hurdle race). It looks like those who offer themselves to run this course can not afford to slack at all as any sluggishness can cost them the victory they so covert.
In the world of athletics, each race means to cover a distance and it’s obstacles within the best time for a medal, fame and glory. The Christian walk as a race, however, means to overcome sin and death by the help of the Holy Spirit everyday of one’s life till this life is over and we can finally live eternally with GOD. It is also to receive the crown of life that the father promises those who finish the race.
ii. The Christian journey is a race because it is run by many who have gone through screening and deemed qualified to participate. Just as in the world of athletics, athletes are screened and declared either fit or unfit to compete, so the Christian walk does not begin for a person unless they are born again and have received the Lord Jesus as personal Saviour with the seal of the Holy Ghost as evidence.
iii. Thirdly, Each participant runs in his or her own track so that one is only motivated to strive on by the other, but not to distract the flow of each other. You see, in the world of athletics, all runners have a track (except for long distance runners). No one is expected to swap tracks on their own; everyone must stick to the track given him/her by the officials. That way, though they must be motivated by the others running beside them to strive even harder, they are not allowed to move from their own tracks to obstruct the others. In that same vain, a believer charts his own course with the Lord and is to be motivated by other believers running the race too, but he is not to move over to obstruct them by backbiting, malice, lies etc. No! You can’t win the race like that.
iv. Finally, all participants in every race aspire towards the finish line for a reward.
Just as secular races have a visible finish line expected to be reached by all who registered to run, so the christian race has a finish line for all who are born again. The race ends either in death or with the rapture. Either way, there is a reward that obviously awaits all runners who finish.
Beloved, meditate on these and ask God to help you be constantly mindful of the fact that you are in a race. Ask for strength to finish and finish well.
Tomorrow, our focus will be on this: IF THE CHRISTIAN JOURNEY IS A RACE, WHAT THEN SHOULD WE DO?
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