My heart was beating fast and my legs were burning. My head was pounding from breathing so hard. I couldn’t tell where my sweat ended and the rain began. I nearly tripped like five times over big rocks and huge ankle-turning holes. But as I crossed that finish line, none of that mattered. I got my medal, I rang the victory bell, and felt a sense of accomplishment unlike anything I had ever experienced. I came in 11th for my age division which surprised me because all I wanted to do was finish!
This race was only a 5k, but I knew what it had taken for me to get there. I trained for this race only as a personal challenge, but quickly fell in love with running. I have had several bouts of injury and setbacks, so I’m far from where I’d like to be, but I’m loving the process.
God gives us a race to run, too. In Hebrews 12:1, it reads:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
What is this race we’re running?
Our whole Christian life is a race towards the finish line which is heaven and our reward which is being with our God forever. We are racing against our enemy and striving for that prize.
If we’ve been given this race to run, and if this race is from God, we should strive to win! Many will run, but only the winners receive the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24).
So how do we win this race? Here are four tips to help you cross that finish line.
- Follow the rules. In Philippians 2:16 we are told to hold fast to the words of God so we can be sure we didn’t run in vain. When racing, there is a very specific trail or road you are supposed to take. You aren’t allowed to cut corners, take shortcuts, or go a different way. In the race of life, we have one way and one way only: Jesus Christ (John 14:6). He is the way. He makes the rules. In order to win the race, we have to play by His rules, on His terms.
- Practical tip: Make an actual list of some of the really important rules we have for our lives, especially the ones you’re struggling with (think Ten Commandments, Jesus’ sermon on the mount, etc.).
- Lay aside the weight. I read an article recently about running major marathons like Boston or New York. In the article, the writer was talking about some of the people running the Boston marathon and all the clothes and stuff they ended up tossing aside mid-race. Some runners had pockets and pouches full of extra water, energy bars, towels, as well as extra layers of clothing. As they started racing, they realized how much these things were weighing them down, so they tossed them aside. As Christians, we need to toss aside the sin, distraction, and burdens weighing us down. We must focus only on what is truly necessary, and not be bothered with anything else.
- Practical tip: Take some time today or this week to stay off of social media for an hour (or several hours or a whole day) and intentionally spend time with God. If social media isn’t a distraction, what else is? Consider taking a break from that and see how much better you race.
- Build endurance. In another article I had read (I’m a running nerd, so I read lots of articles!) the writer had also run the Boston marathon. He got a text after the race from one of his students (he was a professor) saying he had also run the race. The professor was confused because he didn’t even know this student had been training – and that’s because he hadn’t been. This student hadn’t trained a bit and decided he was going to run 26.2 miles. As you can imagine, this student was so severely injured that he couldn’t even finish out the semester. The point: no one can just decide to run a race one day. There is intense training that goes into running. The same is true in our spiritual lives. We must build our endurance in order to finish. No one is able to run a marathon without training and no one is able to get to heaven without putting in the work. You must log the miles, eat protein, strength train, and be consistent. As a Christian, we must read our Bibles, talk to God very regularly, practice serving and loving, and work to control our souls, minds, and bodies.
- Practical tip: One of the best ways to build endurance in running is by going a little faster and a little farther in small increments. Think about small ways you can work a little harder, serve a little more, love a little better today. Maybe you spend five more minutes in prayer than you normally would. Maybe you talk to a non-Christian friend about what you read in your devotional that morning. Whatever it is, push yourself beyond your limits and build up your “Christian muscles.”
- Look to Jesus. Jesus is the best example of running our race well. We know Jesus got His reward. Jesus was conscientious every day, in every small detail, to only think, say, and do things that would inch Him closer to that finish line. We can learn all we need to know about running this race by looking to His great example.
- Practical tip: As cliche or “outdated” as it may seem, get in the habit of asking yourself, “What would Jesus do?” or WWJD. Write it on a sticky note, get a bracelet, repeat it over and over to yourself – whatever you have to do to get it in your head, get into the habit of thinking about this before thinking, saying, or doing anything.
The feeling of crossing that finish line, the feeling of a race attendent placing that medal over my head, was truly incredible. I can’t wait to cross through “the pearly gates” if those are real and meet my Jesus, waiting to reward me for finishing my race. I can almost hear Him with a smile in His voice, “Well done.” I pray this post helps you win your race and keep striving for the goal set before us (Hebrews 12:2). I promise you, you don’t want to miss that reward.
With love,
Sarah
This post was adapted by a short talk given at my church by my grandfather, Randy Gentry.
