Preparing to Persevere

Last week we talked about the importance of casting everything away from our life that would impede us from living up to our fullest potential in Christ. The writer of Hebrews 12:1-3, continues his thoughts about our preparation as he says, “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

There are two things that I would like to highlight about this verse. First the writer says that there is a certain race marked out for each of us. Meaning each one of us has a purpose and an important part to play in this life. God chooses this race for us and it is one that He will empower us to win.

Therefore if you are Christian believer it is imperative that you begin running now. You have signed up for the marathon, it is race day, but you have to start moving forward. You can move forward in your Bible knowledge, move forward in your relationship building, move forward in your prayer life, move forward in your witnessing, move forward in your giving, move forward in the overcoming of sin, etc. There are plenty of wonderful things that we can be doing to advance as we are trying to discover and are waiting for God’s perfect direction.

God has equipped you for this race, but you have to be willing to run. Oliver Wendell Holmes has said, “The place for a man, complete in all of his efforts, is in the fight.”

Secondly, the writer says that we must “run with perseverance”. In other words he is saying to us “don’t quit.” I have been told that around the halfway point in a marathon, runners hit what they call “the wall”. They have been running a long time and they realize that there is a lot more running to do. With body aches and mental fatigue, the runner can bow out or choose to keep grinding and break through this wall.

We are called to persevere despite all of the tribulations that we face and all the cries of Satan for us to bow out and give up. I think Rocky Balbo does a good job of summing up this point when he addresses his son in the latest Rocky installment. He says, “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! ”

If we are in Christ, we too are better than that! Keep Running!

Next week we will discuss "The Goal" of our running. Godspeed to each of you.