As I reflect on the year 2021, I am in awe of God's goodness, Psalm 9:1 & 2 comes to mind. "I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing the praises of Your Name, O Most High!" The Lord has performed many wonderful deeds in 2021 and He will do so in 2022. Be expectant.
Let's take a look at how the Lord has outlined how we are to run/live in 2022.
THE RACE OF LIFE
"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, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
Hebrews 12:1-2a
Little did I know that as a young junior high school boy praying to God for direction in life that He would lead me ultimately to the “race of life.” I simply wanted to make a sports team and make some friends. As a high school sophomore, I signed up for cross country. However, that is not where the race of life began for me. The race of life began when I became a Christian and began developing a relationship with Jesus Christ. I was IN the church all my life, however, I was not "OF" Christ. On May 18, 1972, my wife, Anne and I got down to business. I realized I had signed up for the race of life when I became a Christian and discovered that God had a race planned out uniquely for me.
This race has some similarities to running physically. For example, you are not racing against someone in the race of life, this race is just for you. It is not a timed event nor is the length of the race revealed prior to the start. This race lasts a lifetime.
Both the spiritual and physical races require perseverance. Perseverance is sticking with a task or individual despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. One race is for self glory, the other is for eternal glory. One race is for medals, letter jackets and awards. It promotes self glory, ego is run against others, is timed and is often run alone. The life's race develops humility, interest in helping others, lasts a lifetime and is run with Someone (not against). That Someone is Jesus who is one step ahead of you showing you the way. This race will be challenging as well as rewarding. This race will develop Christlike character such as spiritual faithfulness, self control, patience, goodness, gentleness, joy, kindness, peace and love. In this race you will stumble and falter. But you have Someone, Jesus, who will pick you up, not condemning you, but encouraging you and giving you wisdom for your individual journey.
Which race will you choose?
I loved running. It gave me wonderful honors and success. World records, 7 covers of Sports Illustrated, an Olympic Silver Medal, ESPN's High School Athlete of the Century, even a letter jacket!
However, after all those wonderful successes, I was empty. Life was all about me. There was always a thirsting for more. On May 18, 1972, when Anne and I truly became Christians, I realized for the first time that all those marvelous earthly rewards couldn't earn God’s love. Struggling and striving for acceptance only left me more empty. On that night of accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and giving Him control of my life, I learned He freely gives His love. I didn’t have to earn it. World records, medals hanging on my letter jacket couldn't earn something that was free. At that moment, I began the race of life. I changed coaches from my wonderful high school and college coach Bob Timmons, (who had put up with a lot of my complaining), to Jesus Christ who became the author and perfector of my faith. That faith would give me the courage to offer a homeless person a free meal, that faith would give me the conviction to humble myself and ask forgiveness from my wife and others. This new found relationship with Jesus Christ would get me off the pedestal of serving self and begin teaching me to love and serve others.
This race of life requires perseverance, endurance, trials, tribulations and challenges, much of which I learned in physical running for self glory. The race I now run has a finish line as well but I’m not there yet. That comes at death when I will be greeted by Jesus with the words, "Well done, My good and faithful servant, enter into your rest."
As we celebrate the "Greatest Rescue Story" of how God sent His Son down to earth to save us from our sin, my prayer is that you will be blessed with a new birth of His love, joy and peace in your hearts!
