Good question. I'm not even really sure myself. I assume we all get the World part, as in traveling to 11 different countries on 4 different continents. Yes, I think we'd all agree that that constitutes as World. But how about the Race part?
I would guess that for most of us, the term race implies competition. There's a winner, and consequently, one or more losers. In many cases, there might be a prize or a medal for the one who crosses the finish line or completes their assigned task first. In Western culture (and probably most of the world), to race is to try to beat the opposition, coming out on top, being the best of the best. We put an extreme amount of value on this. Victory often brings glory, and that's something we crave.
But wait, that doesn't sound like the World Race at all. There's no winners or losers, right? And no one gets a gold star. But most importantly, the glory does not belong to those who participate, but rather, it belongs to the One who has sent them, who has made them racers in His mission. So again, we ask, why do they call it a RACE?
I would like to challenge our default definition:
Perhaps race simply means tackling the course laid before us, striving to do our best along the journey, being TRANSFORMED. I recently completed my first half marathon, and by our initial definition, I would have come out as a complete loser. I certainly didn't finish first. I most definitely didn't receive any awards (except for maybe the ones Satan urged me to give myself, such as the "what in the world were you thinking?" award, which is designated for those who highly overestimate their abilities and should probably just watch from the sidelines in the future). And aside from the pat on the back I gave my exhausted self as I stumbled across the finish line, surrounded by strangers, there wasn't a whole lot of glory being gained. Praise God for the SECOND definition, or I'd feel like a total failure.
No, the race, for me, and probably for most of the people running, was against ourselves. It was to prove we could do it, to battle against our minds and those that said we couldn't, to fight against the aches and pains ailing our bodies, to beat our "personal best". For me, the half was a way to challenge my struggles with self-doubt, poor self-image, and negative scripts that have played over and over in my head since I was a young child. It was so much more than just a physical journey–it kept me dependent on the Father for strength and courage, and forced me to see myself the way HE sees me. And it reminded me that God has made my body STRONG and CAPABLE of more than I ever imagined.
I think they call the World Race a RACE because it is a course God has set before us, with obstacles and opportunities to overcome ourselves (our egos, pride, selfishness, fears, failures and insecurities). It's a journey to become more like our Savior in thought, word, and deed. It strips us of the comforts of this world and points us in the direction of what and Who matters. It's a race of love, both lavished upon us by the Father, and poured out into the lives and hearts of all who we encounter. It's a race that will transform not only us into His likeness, but also the life and circumstances of some of the world's most broken. We expect to seem Him at work in, through, and around us, sharing the hope and salvation we find in Him alone.
Isn't this really the purpose of life, regardless of the races we face and conquer? Paul, at the end of his life, wrote in his second letter to Timothy, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." We see in the life of the Apostle Paul that one's journey of faith and relationship with Christ, and following where He leads, is where we find victory. I dare you to live out the race He has laid out for you boldly, trusting in His faithfulness, no matter where it takes you!
