Have you noticed how much competition is encouraged in our society? From school sports to board games to TV quiz shows and professional sports, competitions on the radio and what’s surely the peak of it all with the Olympics, which this year are in Paris!
From a young age we are encouraged to compete. We might say that it’s not the winning but the taking part that counts, but it’s discouraging when many of us aren’t any good at sports!
Nevertheless, as we saw last Sunday from 2 Tim 4 last Sunday morning, the apostle Paul was pleased simply to finish his race:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7)
Paul understood that all of us are running a race through life and the Christian life is full of challenges as if it’s a kind of competition: things to knock us off course, to discourage us from keeping going and try to stop us from finishing with our trust in the Lord Jesus – which IS the prize!
That’s why all the way through the New Testament we are encouraged…to
“…Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Cor 9:24)
And the writer to the Hebrews says…
“…let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb 12:2,3)
Let’s encourage one another to run the race, keeping our eyes on the prize of knowing Jesus!
Spencer Shaw