****Please read the scripture from the Bible first as this is God's Word****

Have any of you ever heard of the analogy of life to a race? You know the "race of life"? In verse 1 we see the bible speak of a race that is set before us. The race begins the day of your salvation and your walk with the Lord. For some of us it will be a short race and a long race for others. The point of this race isn't to win, but to finish well.

However in order to run a race we must be in a healthy spiritual condition. Verse one specifies we are to lay aside every weight, and the sin which beset us. We can't run a race if we have excessive weight. We can't be indulged in our lives, to the point that we forget our primary purpose on this earth, which is to bring glory to God. This week at church we had a TV fast, and it being the playoff season was hard for many. It is not that the TV itself is evil, some of things on TV may be evil, but the TV is a distraction that may keep us from focusing on our primary purpose. I am guilty of falling into being a slave of my TV and computer, and this is something that the Lord is working with on me. When you get rid of these distractions and place God before all even yourself, you will be in good spiritual health to run the race. A part of being in good spiritual health is being unselfish and sharing. We must share the gospel with others and tell them of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Luke 10:2 tells us that we need to have more laborers to help with the harvest. God is and is always working in peoples hearts, they are ready for harvest, but we as Christians need to take the gospel of Jesus to everyone, for we don't know who is ready for harvest, but God does. Serving God is part of the race. We have to not only get rid of excess weight and sin, but we need to serve, because this life isn't about ourselves, it is about glorifying God.

There are many that have gone to glory with our Father in heaven that have finished the race well. In verse 1 we see a cloud of witnesses. These people are not just witnesses but martyrs or testifiers, that are watching the race. They have finished their course already and have gone to heaven. In 2 Timothy 4:6-8 we see Paul talking about his death at hand, but he basically says in verse 7 that he has finished the race well, and in verse 8 we see his reward. Wouldn't it be nice to say that we have ran a good race as we see death around the corner? Because death means eternal life with God.

In verse 1 we see that we must run with patience or faith for the race that is set before us (verse 2) looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is our motivation, inspiration, and strength. Just as the runner concentrates on the finish line, we should concentrate on Jesus, the goal and objective of our faith. Jesus has already run the race and finished well, as He sits at the right hand of the Father. It briefly shows the race that Jesus finished, (verse 2) Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

Maybe you haven't begun your race, I encourage you to really evaluate your life and maybe see there is more to this life than your pleasure on this earth. There is much more, but your eyes have to be open, your excess weight has to be lost and most of all your sin must be forgiven, by none other than Jesus. And if you have started your race, stand fast, and keep your faith till the day we meet our Father in heaven.

posted by Ben at 8:07 AM