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“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
“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,”
Hebrews 12:1
The two opening Scriptures above clearly shows us that what we have been called into as disciples and disciplers, is a race. Race, according to the texts above, is not referring to a person’s physical characteristics or group affiliation. It is not talking about you belonging to the Yoruba or Igbo or American race. It is simply also not talking about you in a kind of some track and field event in which there is a prize to be won in view. The Christian race is more than that, and it is purely a spiritual race as well. And the truth is this as well, everyone who participates in this race and come out victorious has a prize to be won too.
Every believer have been enlisted in a race and the Christian life is the race that Paul was talking about in the above passage. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, he further expatiated on that race for us to fully understand what he was talking about. It says: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Apostle Paul made us to understand that there is a prize for staying till the end. In a world and time where believers are fast deviating from the path of life and embracing the world because Christianity seems not to be interesting and boring, apostle Paul said for those who would endure to the end, there is a prize to be won. So, it is not just a race in futility, it is a race that promises a reward at the end of the day.
What Believers Need To Run This Race Successfully
I was privileged to watch a Christian movie recently. The film was about a little, fifteen year old girl who loves to run but had never participated before in any race competition. And so, there was an opportunity for her school to participate in an inter-state running competition. And she is the only one who loves to run in her school, the principal of the school puts her forward to represent the entire school in this competition.
Now, this was a girl who had never participated in any competition before in her life. But at the end of the day, she won the competition, despite her predicament of being asthmatic. There are a number of things I gleaned from her story which I believe would enable every believer to run this race that has been set before us successfully.
1. Faith in God
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
2 Timothy 2:3-4
Every runner believes in something. The kind of race you are running would determine what you ultimately believe in. An average professional athlete first and foremost believes he or she can win the competition, and so, they present themselves in the competition.
But concerning the Christian race, David wrote in Psalms 20:7 that “Some trusts in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” For us to ever emerge victorious at the end of the day in this race that we have been enlisted in, we must put our faith in God. Why? Because He is the one who has enlisted us, and He is the one who can see us through to its completion. When you read the book of Hebrews 11, the Scripture made a list of examples of those who through faith have run this race and are overcomers.
2. A Good Coach
According to CareerExplorer.com, “A coach is a person or someone who instructs and works with students or with adult clients to prepare them for anything from performing at their peak in recreational or professional sports, to developing skills that will help a person achieve life and career goals. A coach can be a private tutor, a counselor, or a life-skills coordinator.” This definition has to do with the race of life generally. That means if you are ever going to get to the peak of your career in life, you need a coach, a mentor or someone who can show you the how.
However, in the Christian race, the Holy Spirit is our coach. He is our counselor, our tutor and our coordinator. And because we have Him as our coach, we are more than sure that we are going to win this race. In John 14:46 (AMP), the Scripture gave us the description of this our coach. It says: “But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.”
3. The Right Company
If you are ever going to run this Christian race successfully, then you sure need the right company. Now in Christianity, who you associate yourself with matters a great deal. As believers, we are not permitted to company with the world. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 tells us: “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” If you are ever going to come out victorious in this race, you cannot afford to company with the world. The Scripture says friendship with the world is enmity against God (James 4:4).
Listen to Podcast: Running The Race Before Us: 4 Things Believers Need To Run It Successfully
Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us the importance of having the right/good company. It says: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” The Scripture reported how apostle Peter and John were set free after being incarcerated for preaching the gospel. And after they released them, Acts 4:23 tells us that they went back to their own companions. KJV says “they went to their own company.”
4. Endurance
“Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
2 Timothy 2:10
The Christians race is a race of endurance. As you can see, the writer of Hebrews didn’t mince words or try to sugarcoat that part of the passage. It says “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,.” Merriam-Webster has three meanings given to the word endurance. It says “the ability to do something difficult for a long time.” The Christian race is a spiritual race, and it can sometimes be difficult if one does not approach it with every spirituality it deserves. The race becomes difficult if one tries or attempts to run it with one’s physical strength and 1 Samuel 2:9b tells us “for by strength no man shall prevail.”
The second meaning given to the word endurance is this: “the ability to deal with pain or suffering that continues for a long time.” This meaning here, apostle Paul showed us a glimpse into what he went through for Christ’s sake. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27. The Scriptures says:
“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.”
Now, when you sit down and begin to analyze what Paul went through in his journey for the sake of the gospel and for him to finish his race, and how long he went through this travails, one wouldn’t need to be told that this is endurance at its peak. A natural man may not be able to go through this for a long time. And in winning this race we are talking about, we may have to go through this, if God brings it your way.
The third meaning given to the word endurance is this: “The quality of continuing for a long time.” Well, let me shock you a bit. This Christian race isn’t the that ends at your own timing. God is the one who determines whether you have finish the race or not. He is the sole and only umpire of the race. He determines when you start it and He also determines when you finish it. That is why the Scripture says in Luke 9:62 that “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” The race is the plough and haven begun it, there is no looking back.
This is why in 2020, you have to step up your endurance gear. You have to put aside every weights and sins that easily weighs you down in this race according to Hebrews 12:2.
Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!
Source:[Centre for New Dimension Leadership]
