FINISHING THE RACE

Galatians 5:7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.


Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

On Memorial Day 2011 there were several auto races ran. The Indy 500 was all but won by a young man who did something he knew better than to do and it cost him the victory.

By getting too close to the wall on the last turn, he lost control and crashed a million dollar car.

Another race the Coca-cola 600 was lost on the backstretch by running out of gas on the final turn.

The scriptures admonish us to finish our race that is set before us. In order to do this it requires one to learn what to do and then to do it. There are no secrets to living a Christian life; it is all spelled out in the Bible.

There is nothing that the Christian can’t overcome albeit some have more difficulties than others due to their environment.

We sometime think it strange that there are difficulties to deal with in life. John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

While it true we have an adversary that is going about “seeking somebody to devour” he still requires our submission for him to prevail.

In the Christian race the only thing we have to fear is ourselves. Like the driver in the Indy race who did something he knew he shouldn’t do, so also it is incumbent upon the Christian to do as the disciples did when Jesus said ”Come follow me.”

There were some who followed Jesus for a while but then turned away causing him to say to the disciples ”Will you leave also?” their answer was simple “To whom can we go for thou hast the words of life.”

It is necessary to reaffirm our resolve occasionally to stay the course and finish our race but there is a renewed strength that comes from doing this.

Our race requires a steady pace. Some have erred but putting on a burst of speed only to find themselves exhausted, worn out, and unable to keep up the pace.

The song “I will follow thee” has the verse,
”Though I meet with tribulation,
Sorely tempted though I be,
I remember Thou wast tempted,
And rejoice to follow Thee."