The Race

So as I was driving to Panama City today, going about 60 MPH and making great time, the road suddenly cut down to one lane and police had the 2nd lane cut off.  Well this drastically increased traffic as everyone in the right lane had to suddenly merge into the left lane.  So we went from 60 MPH to about 10.  Why did the police have the entire right lane blocked off?

Well turns out, Destin was having a triathlon today.  And cyclists were pulling out of a side street onto the main highway and so they got their own lane.  Well the course kept them on the main highway for about 5 miles, so I got plenty of time to observe them as traffic slowly crept forward.

What I noticed, is that all of them were tired at this point, but they were handling it differently.  I noticed some of the cylists slowed down as they tired.  Others pushed harder and sped up.  Others still settled into a mindless pattern of movement in an attempt to conserve energy.  I never saw the end of the race, but I got a good look at several racers.

How do you and I race?  When we feel like the finish line isn't even in sight yet and we are so tired? Do we slow down, do we push harder, or do we pull ourselves out mentally and just go through the motions and hope we finish?

The book of Hebrews tell us to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..."  The Christian lifestyle is a race.  It will test our endurance and our patience. Being a Christian is not a walk in the park. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are selling something.

So the question is not ARE you running the race...it is HOW are you running?  When things get rough, do you persevere and set your focus on Christ, or do you shut down any and all emotion and just try to ram through your problems?  Or do you not handle stress well and whenever life hits you, you curl up into a ball on the inside and make being a Christian a hollow thing with no real meaning?

As I observed these racers, I saw in them a determination.  They were all tired.  And yet every one of them was huffing and weezing and driving forward with all the strength they possessed.  They were not all there to get 1st place.  They were there simply to finish the race and not one of them was ready to quit.  Does this mindset reflect you?

Are you a contender in the race?  Are you out to finish the race?  Entering into a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus is not the end of the race.  It is the beginning.  There is much striving and running to be done.  How are you faring?

I encourage you today, my brothers and sisters, to examine yourselves.  How are you racing?  Determine to finish.  Focus on the author and perfecter of faith.  Only He can keep you going. :-)