Marathon Runners

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (I Corinthians 9: 24-27 NIV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12: 1-3 NIV)

How is salvation a matter of grace, a free gift, if it is depicted as a reward and crown, as something earned, merited and deserved, as by a runner, fighter, or worker? And, how do we reconcile the above words with these by the same apostle?

"So then it (the love and favor of God, or salvation) is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." (Romans 9: 16 KJV)

The answer is not all that difficult. Let us first establish a case scenario, using the above analogy of the runner (contestant) as our example.

1. The desire to run in the race is the gift of God, or his creation. That is, he puts it into the heart for some to become runners, and to desire the prize. All do not enter the race or become contestants for the prize. The difference lay in the fact that one had the desire and one did not. But, who do we credit with giving people the desire for the prize? Shall we credit ourselves or credit the Lord?

2. Secondly, not only the desire to run the race, and the coveting of the prize, is the gift of God, but the actual power to run the race is also the gift of God.

3. Thirdly, Christ is the runner's coach and trainer, the one at the runner's side, in his "corner," throughout his training, and throughout the entirety of the race itself.

All this, looked at from the divine standpoint, assures every believer of victory in the race. It is all implied in the above verses. Jesus is the forerunner. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of the Christian's faith and perseverence.

Jesus, as a wise coach, and a successful runner himself, tells us to not run this race with shackles or weights! Every runner tries to be as light as he can. Can you imagine running this race with ankle weights?

Sin, says Paul, are such weights on the ankles of spiritual runners. Sin hinders the efforts of the contestant, causing him to tire early, and lose his stamina, and endangers his chances of winning the race and gaining the prize.

Paul asked the members of the first churches in Galatia:

"Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 5: 7)

As Christian runners, running in a marathon race, it is important that we "run well." Not all those who are professing Christians, who enter the Christian race, as contestants, or viers, in fact obtain the prize. Some are "disqualified." What went wrong? First, they did not sufficiently possess the desire for the prize. They lacked spiritual drive and ambition. Second, they did not have "patience" or "perseverance" or "endurance" to finish the race. Third, they did not properly train for the race, not heeding the instructions of our coach.

This race is to be "run with patience (or 'perseverance')." The race is not a short one, like a 100 yard dash, where speed is important. No, rather, the race is a long distance one, a marathon, and this kind of race requires that the runner "pace" himself. The successful runner must not run this race with the weights of sin hanging on his body, nor run without patience. The successful runner must rely completely upon his coach and trainer.

"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3: 7, 8)

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Verse 14)

"Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4: 6)

Friend, what do you "prize" most in life? Is your eye on the things of this world or on heavenly things and on the world to come? Do you prize Christ and his righteousness? Do you prize salvation and eternal life? Then I urge you to enter into this race today, to set your eyes on the prize, and to take Christ as your coach and trainer, and look to him for patience, perseverence, power, and might. You will be sure to obtain the prize if you do.