Run!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who loved His appearing.”—2 Timothy 4:7-8

This past week I ran the Chicago Marathon. I never thought that I could run that far…26.2 miles. I still can’t believe it. Eight months ago I was overweight and out of shape. I could barely make it up and down the stairs without running out of breath. I had a hard time tying my shoes because of the spare tire that I had acquired. It wasn’t until I decided to take control of my health when things started to change. I didn’t set out to run a marathon. I hopped on the treadmill and began to walk at first. After I got used to walking, I then started to jog for a period of time, and it wasn’t too far after that when I was able to run. I ran each day and kept running. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. I kept running and running. My runs got longer and longer, until I was able to run 5 miles then 6 miles, then 8 miles and 10. I remember when I got done running 10 miles; I couldn’t believe that I was actually able to run that far. And then I couldn’t believe that I had to run 16 more miles for it to be a marathon! I was exhausted after 10! Eventually, I built up enough endurance where I could run the marathon.

When the day of the marathon arrived, I was tense. I had never run that far in my training and here I was in full view of thousands upon thousands of people, running the longest race of my life. I started off with everyone else, running through the crowds, hearing fans cheering all around me. I could see posters for various runners, with words of encouragement on them. The race was long and after 10 miles, I started feeling more and more fatigued. As my fatigue grew, so did my resiliency. I knew that no matter how hard it was after each step, no matter how much my muscles locked up, and no matter how cold I felt, each step meant that I was one step closer to the finish line.

Finally, entering into mile 26, I knew that I was into the homestretch. I turned the last corner to see a giant screen confronting me with my face on it. It was to remind me that I only had a little bit longer to go and it would all be over. Thousands of fans were on the street and their faces became one continuous blur. Shouts and words of encouragement flew from different individuals for me to continue on, to press on to the end. I couldn’t quit, not so far into the race. I didn’t want to. I had worked too long and too hard for it to stop here. I kept moving my feet, one foot in front of the other. I was exhausted and had nothing left. My legs didn’t want to move. Then I saw the finish line. Just a little bit longer and it would all be over. I pushed across the line. What joy! I had managed to do what I had imagined several months before to be impossible, yet I was able to do it.

Soon after finishing the race, I had a young woman place a medal around my neck, denoting my accomplishment. All of the work that I had put in, all of the time, all of the pain, and all of the sacrifice were rewarded. It was a great moment.

Paul understood what it meant to run the race. We all run the race of faith and we, like Paul need to be reminded what awaits us at the end. All of our sacrifice and sorrow, all of the tears and frustration, everything will find it’s fulfillment at the finish line. We must continue on. We may not think that we can keep it up, but we can, by God’s grace and His Holy Spirit working in us…we can. One doesn’t have to be Paul to run the race. That’s why Paul says that he will be rewarded, but not only him, but also “all who loved His appearing.” If you long for the appearing of Jesus Christ, then you can run the race. Let us,  

“lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God”—Hebrews 12:1-2. 

Amen.