“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!” (1 Corinthians 9:24 AMP)
“To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, but we do it for a heavenly reward that never disappears. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win.” (1 Corinthians 25-26a TLB)
We need to put ourselves into training for this race called life. The prize waiting for us at the end of this race is of ultimate importance. It will be an eternity with God or an eternity in hell. So how are you approaching it? Are you basically running on a treadmill making no headway whatsoever? Or, are you approaching it with a hit and miss method – some days you do pretty good at being the person you want to be – the person you should be; and, other days you just throw caution to the wind?
No matter what stage of life you’re currently in, God can use you. The race is not just for the young, it’s for everyone that wakes up every morning and takes a breath. Parents can train up their children in a Godly household, making certain they know what’s important to their eternal life. Business people can conduct themselves in such a way that they are above reproach and known for their honesty and hopefully influence others to do the same. Teachers can be positive influences on the children they instruct. Politicians can fight for the things that are good and right for not only their constituents, but for this nation and the world at large. Senior citizens can be an example to all they come in contact with for peace, joy, love and hope. You get the idea.
In the New Testament, Timothy was a young pastor that had served alongside Paul for a very long time before he settled in to be a leader at the church at Ephesus. In 1 Timothy 1:18 (ERV) Paul says in the letter he was writing to Timothy – “Timothy, you are like a son to me. What I am telling you to do agrees with the prophecies that were told about you in the past. I want you to remember those prophecies and fight the good fight of faith.” And in verse 6:12 (GNT) Paul says: “Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.”
When Paul wrote to Timothy again about four years later Paul was in a Roman prison and was near death. He wanted to encourage Timothy because he knew the difficulties and trials that he would be facing. Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7 (VOICE): “I have fought the good fight, I have stayed on course and finished the race, and through it all, I have kept believing.” In other words, Paul wanted Timothy to know that he was not asking him to do anything that he hadn’t done – practice what you preach.
It’s important that we complete the job we were put here on earth to do – just as Jesus did. “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4 NLT)
We need to run our race daily so that at the end, we can look back and know that even with many likely mistakes we did our best and can be satisfied with the results – just as Jesus and Paul.
Each day in my prayer time I ask God to show me who He wants me to be and what He wants me to be and do. I truly do want to run this race successfully and be a winner on the other end. I’d like to think that as people come into my life that I might have some positive influence on them – that they might see Him in me, my words, my actions. Am I successful? Some days yes, some days no. But I must keep running the race, striving to do my best.
If we want to finish well – we need to be living well. Keep prayerfully running the race.
Written by Karran Martin – August 5, 2023
[All bold emphasis is mine]
Karran's Korner 