Don't Quit
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable”—1 Corinthians 9:24-25.
Everyone has a found memory of his or her youth. Mine was in 6th grade. When I was in 6th grade, I ran in Jr. high track. The race that I was good at was the 800 meters. I ran in several track meets and found myself undefeated going into the state finals. When the race arrived, I was ready. I started off at the head of the pack and after the first lap (there were two laps in the race) I was in the lead. In the last two hundred meters I saw the finish line. I started to dream about winning, in disbelief that I was going to win State my first year. As I imagined myself crossing the finish line, my mind imagining what I was going to do, one young man zoomed past me crossing the tape right before me. I was devastated. I ran so hard and lost in the last in 10 meters.
The next year I found myself back at the same State track meet, running against the same guys. But this year I trained harder than I did the year before, and was ready. I started off just like the year before, but kept my mind focused. As I came around the corner of my last 100 meters just like the year before was still fresh in my mind. I didn’t dream about finishing, I just ran and kept running. I pushed myself harder than I had ever pushed myself before. The next thing I know that I had crossed the finish line. I had won! It was amazing. I had not only won the race, but I had set the state record!
I had run the race so as to win. I didn’t just want to compete; I wanted to win. That’s how we are to be about our faith, running to win! We aren’t to run just to run for fun, but we run so as to win, giving everything, focused, determined, and disciplined. We will be victorious! We don’t run to receive an earthly reward, but an eternal one. We are running in such a way as to receive the heavenly prize. Imagine standing before the heavenly host receiving your reward from God Himself. What a day! Let’s run after Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, throwing off everything that keeps us back! Amen.
Everyone has a found memory of his or her youth. Mine was in 6th grade. When I was in 6th grade, I ran in Jr. high track. The race that I was good at was the 800 meters. I ran in several track meets and found myself undefeated going into the state finals. When the race arrived, I was ready. I started off at the head of the pack and after the first lap (there were two laps in the race) I was in the lead. In the last two hundred meters I saw the finish line. I started to dream about winning, in disbelief that I was going to win State my first year. As I imagined myself crossing the finish line, my mind imagining what I was going to do, one young man zoomed past me crossing the tape right before me. I was devastated. I ran so hard and lost in the last in 10 meters.
The next year I found myself back at the same State track meet, running against the same guys. But this year I trained harder than I did the year before, and was ready. I started off just like the year before, but kept my mind focused. As I came around the corner of my last 100 meters just like the year before was still fresh in my mind. I didn’t dream about finishing, I just ran and kept running. I pushed myself harder than I had ever pushed myself before. The next thing I know that I had crossed the finish line. I had won! It was amazing. I had not only won the race, but I had set the state record!
I had run the race so as to win. I didn’t just want to compete; I wanted to win. That’s how we are to be about our faith, running to win! We aren’t to run just to run for fun, but we run so as to win, giving everything, focused, determined, and disciplined. We will be victorious! We don’t run to receive an earthly reward, but an eternal one. We are running in such a way as to receive the heavenly prize. Imagine standing before the heavenly host receiving your reward from God Himself. What a day! Let’s run after Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, throwing off everything that keeps us back! Amen.
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