The sun is beating down on the pavement creating illusions of a blurry image in the far off distance. There is no wind, not a cloud in the sky, and you sigh as you ready yourself for what you know is coming. You kneel down, one foot in front, bent at the perfect angle as you stretch your other leg behind you and place your hands on the hot ground. You take a deep breathe, already feeling sweat trickle down your spine, nervousness racks your being as you wait in agony. You look to your right, then you look to your left as you take in the runners preparing themselves for takeoff. The horn suddenly sounds, and before you realize what you’re doing you are off. Flying as fast as your legs can carry you and striving with everything in you to move faster, to step just one foot ahead of the next racer, to gain just a little bit of distance. Turning the first bend you smile, knowing that some of your competitors are already weary. By the second turn you are struggling more but thriving. By the third you are no longer focusing on those around you, but on your own feet and where they are headed. By the fourth you are drenched, panting as you beg your body to take just a little more air in, to give you just a little more time. You can do this. You got this. You spent months preparing for this moment. Every step, every decision in the next few moments will haunt and effect you for the rest of your life. Every decision and action counts. You CANNOT mess this up. Intentionality is everything. So as you round the last bend you take a deep breathe, fueling up for the last leg of the race. Your legs move just a little faster and your arms are exhausted. Not looking at anyone but the finish line in front of you, you push on, taking a sigh of relief and satisfaction as the horn blows again. You did it friend, you won the race, you placed first, you really did it…
1 Corinthians 9:24-26
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things….they do it for a gold medal that tarnished and fades, but we do it for an eternal prize.
Lessons most often are revealed and learned when we go through tribulation. We grow and we change when we are challenged. Right now I am in the beginning of two months in South Africa, and the race is pushing me in every direction. Opportunities for ministry have been fun and exciting, but scary too. I have the privilege to actually teach people, to preach, to have impact, and to share what I’ve been given. But for those who receive much, much is expected. And I have received a whole kingdom. I want to go into the 5 months left of this beautiful season praying for the honor to to defend the gospel and to suffer for Christ. I am praying to be put in situations where I have to work hard, push myself, rely on not my own strength but the Lord’s, and be lead by inspiration and the spirit to get me through. If we don’t have to truly work for something is it truly worth having? And if we have something that is worth keeping with us forever, aren’t we obligated to share it with others? Runners are disciplined. They are forced to get enough sleep, to eat food that is nourishing, and to spend their time wisely. What I prepare for is what I am going to end up achieving. What I sow I reap. So let me not spend my life, or my time here in this beautiful country doing useless things or having meaningless conversations. Let me work hard, grow in and for the gospel, spend my time where it should be, have intentional conversations, and do everything for the sake of the kingdom so that when I reach the finish line I may say that I won the race.
The word runner has been on my heart constantly for the last two weeks, and because of that I have had these three scriptures I’ve shared written on my arms, reminding me why I am here and what life I am choosing to live. I hope that this short reminder of what our purpose is will have some impact on your heart:)
Romans 5:3-4
“Suffering produces endurance, endurance, character, and character hope.”
Romans 8:18 says
“For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
