Run for your life!

By Kim Larsen

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has set down on the right hand of God.”

I’m not a runner, I have tried….. but I just never hit my stride! I enjoy watching people run, especially the summer Olympics last year. Track and field is one of my favorites. Some people are just born to run aren’t they? As the sprinters lined up, they would shake out their legs, and the muscles would ripple. There are like running machines! The crowds loved the sprinters too, you could hear the applause and cheering as they walked out onto the track. They made running look so effortless and would run so fast that if you took your eyes off for a second you would miss the whole race. Then the long distance runners came out. They were built so differently. They are so thin and small. The gun went off and they began to run, not too fast, no, a steady paced run. They had conditioned themselves for the long haul. They ran so long that you could go get snacks and come back and they were still running, until the end. After all of that time they still were able to pick up the pace at the end and pull away and cross the finish line.

The Christian walk is like the long distance run. Life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. We must prepare ourselves for the long race, on all kinds of rough roads, with pot holes, and obstacles in the way. We are to lay aside the things that would slow us down or cause us to stop. Satan loves to distract us and take our eyes off what is important. We have cherished sins that we chase after and we find ourselves off track. We have habits that may keep our minds clouded and our thoughts on selfish endeavors. These things weigh us down.

The goal is the finish line, crossing over into our heavenly home where we can finally stop and take off our shoes and rest. Who will greet us at the finish line? Our life coach, Jesus will be there to welcome us home! He has been by our side all through this race, encouraging us to go on and not quit. Stay on course, keep your eyes on the goal, don’t look back. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus! It will be an awesome finish!