“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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV).
Run the race of life. In order to run the race with endurance and patience we must lay aside every weight which holds us back and slows us down. And we must train and discipline our body and minds to accomplish this goal of running the race of life, in the perfect example which Jesus lived. Along the road in which we run are obstacles, The “Y” in the road, dangers and difficulties. We face all these on a daily basis, these obstacles enable our faith to grow in God as well as give us the ability to relate and help those who are going through the same circumstances.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NKJV).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (2 Cor. 1:3-5 NKJV).
The “Y” in the road is the choice to choose. Either choose one way or the other but that choice affects yourself and others. One road is wide and broad the other is narrow and difficult. Yet at anytime on either road you have the free will, the choice to change roads, the narrow leads to life the wide road leads to death.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV).
Dangers and hardships, we have two choices again, be fearful of uncertainties which lie ahead or trust “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).
“ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:3 NKJV).
Difficulties are expected in life,” Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword…Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” ( Romans 8:35,37 NKJV).
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” (2 Cor. 4:8-10 NKJV).
Once again you have two options, choose to run the race of life, encountering difficulties because a life of sin has caused brokenness, sorrow, pain, and hurt or will you choose to run the race of life, encountering difficulties because you choose the narrow and difficult way which leads to life and a life surrendered to Jesus Christ.
“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. 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. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Cor. 9:24-27 NKJV).
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV).
God bless you all, and run the race as Jesus has left us the perfect example to live our lives by.
