I hate the name “The World Race.”
When I first found the World Race it took me a few minutes to even find out that it has anything to do with missions or God. The way they advertise it doesn’t help either. Every video I see advertising the world race its mainly just a bunch of young adults having a fun time around the world with a little bit of Jesus involved.
Luckily, I know its not like that. I’ve done my research and spoke to many people who have experienced the world race to know that its not a fun Christian site seeing trip. It’s an intence missionary journey that includes training, disapline, pain, endurance, faith, and a DEEP love for God. Yes, we may get to see and experience cool things but that’s a very small percentage of things we are doing. Most of our time will be spent ministering, sharing Gods love, and helping others who are not as privileged as us.
Unfortunately, when you look at the world race from the outside it doesn’t always look like that. There are very few people who are not supportive of what God has called me to and that’s ok. Nothing is stopping me from following God’s plan in my life. And just like the name “The World Race,” from the outside it doesn’t look like much but a game show title, or a christian site seeing trip, but if you look into the name a little bit and do your reaserch you’ll find out that it’s so much more.
In the Bible whenever a race is brought up, its never about frolicking through flowers or strolling in a park. The Bible portrays a race as something you prepare for and put your all into. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 explains it well:
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV
That may be hard to understand but to break it down here’s what the Fire Bible commentary has to say about these verse‘s:
“Paul illustrates the principle that if we fail to exercise self-control, self-disipline, self-denial (humility), and love in our relationships with others and God, we ourselves risk being rejected by God.”
I can hear you saying it now, “WOW, Krista, that sounds harsh.” But is it wrong? Is that not what Christianity is all about?
When I think of where I will be in 6 months and 14 days, I don’t think about all the fun I’ll be having while I travel the world, I think about others and how lives will be changed in learning about the love and hope of Christ!
Just like Paul describes it, its like training for a race, a World Race.
