Here are your runners:
1. One who starts the race and doesn't finish.
2. One who starts the race just finishes ( not necessarily well)
3. One who starts the race and finishes well
Lets talk about the first runner. In 1946 Florence Chadwick a English swimmer who swam the English canal wanted to swim from Catalina to the shore of long beach. On a dark, foggy night she set out to swim the 26 miles that had never been done. After 15 hours of swimming, she looked up and could not see the shore line, tired and now doubting her abilities she was asked to be taken out of the water. After many pleas and unable to encourage her to continue to swim, she was pulled out of the water placed in the boat, and they continued on and sadly hitting the shore line a mile later.
This is a picture of someone who is running, while on course the trials or pressure become to great. Or tiredness overcomes them and they start to doubt their faith, or trust. This person looks ahead and cannot see changing of circumstances and gives up.
The next runner reminds me of my friends dad. He signed up to do the LA Marathon. He wasn't a runner and you would think that signing up for such an event he would train properly. Well wrong! He just should up the day of the marathon to run and guess what he finished. It took him about 7 hours but the man finished his race. Unfortunately the lack of training caused him to mess up his knees really bad. It was so bad he was off work for a long time and with the potential to one day have surgery.
Now you probably thinking, ok well at least he finished. He is a runner who was not prepared for his race. He didn't train, and although he finished he had consequence that could have been avoided. We need to be prayed up, read up , fellowshiped up that when our course gets tough we are ready to handle the tough terrain. It doesn't mean your course will be easier, but I guarantee that instead of injury there will be growth, hope and blessings.
Lastly the runner who finishes and finishes well. In 2004 The Boston Red Sox found themselves in the second round of the playoffs down to the NY Yankees. They were in game four down three games and also down 4-3 in the game. It was the ninth inning and a out away of being eliminated, they rallied to not only win the game in the twelfth inning but they won the next series and went on to win the world series.
Here is a picture of a team who could have saw their bleak circumstances and doubt their abilities to throw in the towel. I mean who wouldn't right? Even the sports commentators where calling the game saying it was impossible to come back. But against all odds this team relied on what they knew had faith and continued to press on.
Hey listen we are all running, we started to run the day we were born. I ask you where are you on your course? Are you still running? Have you started and quit? If so put on your shoes and get back on course it is never to late. Jesus always gives you a chance to come back. Like a physical course the spiritual race of faith also has peaks and valleys. Some miles are harder than other but don't quit keep running.
Perhaps you are still running, but just that you have no purpose or motivation. You lack vision and you are just going through the motions. You haven't read, you haven't prayed etc. Today is the day, today is the day that you start to train harder so that you can be a better athlete. It is much easier when you are better equipped or spiritual in shape to run your course. Their are blessing waiting for you.
Are you running and running well. Perhaps you have mastered your pace? You are that runner that the day you finish your race you will stand before the Lord and He will put a crown on your head and say " you have finished well." If so then help those who are struggling to train. Mentor those who need a coach and be there when they need someone to run with. Push them when they hit that mental wall. Be a light , be like Jesus!
"Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. "
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Praying that we are running to win!
Moni
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