“Let us run with endurance the race…”
Having thrown out sin and the weight of unwise things, we must continue. The race will not be easy, therefore it calls for strength and patience and the willingness to last. How much am I hindered because I want ease or comfort or sin more than embracing the work of the race? Comparison. Envy. Worry. Thanklessness. Time wasters. Discontent. Grumbling. Partiality. Impurity. Selfishness. These things will not help me win.
“…that is set before us…”
The race runner doesn’t make the course. We trust God for that. We follow what he has established, planned, and allowed. This race is our sanctification- the work of the Holy Spirit in our every step and thought of obedience that makes us more like the character of Christ. Far be it from me to take up the weights of grumbling about my course, or of judging the wisdom of the course-maker, or of worrying over the length or difficulty of the race that God has set before me.
“…Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God…”
Every runner has a goal: the finish line. The Christian has a person: Christ. So, then, just as the goal is the utmost importance to winning, so Christ is of the utmost importance to the believer in his or her race. He is there in the race with us, because He has promised never to leave us. He is also before us, having already faced even death and defeating it.
He knows joy in obedience. He has endured. He helps our unbelief and strengthens our faith. This is our Savior. This is our God.
As the school year comes to an end, as life goes on, the most helpful phrase I can remember is “fixing our eyes on Christ”. The best meditation of my heart is Christ and all thatScripture has revealed of his character and work on my behalf.
