Did you know that the word race in Greek means
agony.......isn't that ironic.
There
are many times that I wholeheartedly feel the agony.
Forrest Gump: That day, for no particular reason,
I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I
got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I
thought maybe I'd just run across Greenbow County. And I figured, since I run
this far, maybe I'd just run across the great state of Alabama. And that's what
I did. I ran clear across Alabama. For no particular reason I just kept on
going. I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd
gone this far, I might as well turn around, just keep on going. When I got to
another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn
back, keep right on going.
For most
of us running like Forrest Gump doesn't come quite that easy. It certainly
doesn't for me. It looks like a huge feat when we hear about the distance he
ran. We can hardly getter head wrapped around something like that and how far
and how hard it must be.
- 1,169 Days Forrest runs (Or, as he put it, 3
years, 2 months, 14 days, 16 hours)
- 19,024 Miles Forrest
completes during his three-year run
- 16 Average miles Forrest runs per day, based on my
Google map calculations
There
was a couple in Australia that ran everyday last year.....each day the distance
of a marathon. That is over 9500 miles.....to go around the entire
country......and they were in their 60s........Forrest was 35 and a fictional
character.
We don't
think about the over all task when we start.
How do
you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
How do
you run a marathon? One step at a time.
January was my first marathon ever. 26.2 miles. I had
only ever ran 17 miles once and then 20 miles. But I have added up a bunch of
shorter runs to prepare. I started keeping track December of 2011. During 2012
I ran only 50 times. Only five were 10 miles or more. That December I hurt my
Achilles and could hardly run the first part of the entire year. 2013 I ran 66 times. Ten of those runs were
over 10 miles but not until September. This year I have already run fives times
over 10 miles.
A total of 136
runs for a total of 760 miles;
144
hours and burned 115,000 calories. 55,727 steps.
This
year's goals are 6 marathons, 6 half marathons + the other little races =1000
miles. 2,126,984 steps
One step at a time.
Paul compares
the Christian life to running a race. There are a lot of semblance.
STRATEGIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL FINISH.
1 Corinthians
9:24-25
24
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the
prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who
competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
So how
do we insure the way that we run the race in our Christian life to insure we
receive the prize.You
want to finish your race and receive your prize. There are heavenly
rewards that will be given for faithful
service and sacrifice on our journey.
1. PACE YOURSELF.
In
running a marathon, pace is so important. At the starting line, you are all charged
up and ready to go. Adrenalin is flowing and the natural tendency is to go all
out and give it everything you have. You have to practice constraint and pace
yourself for the long haul.
Going
into the marathon, I knew what pace I needed to do in order to finish. I
started out with that pace even though I could have done a faster pace at the
start. Going slow at the start and taking my time, paid off at the end. In the
last six miles, I passed many people that were walking and some limping. They
did not pace their self. They started out too fast and didn’t have it in them
to finish at the end.
Beloved,
we are in this for the long haul. We don’t want anything to cut our mission off
short. We want to accomplish everything that we have been placed on this earth
to accomplish.
The race
is easy when you are surrounded by friends. When you're running past the bands
or the water stops or the crowds cheering you. But what about the times when
you are alone? When you are on the back highway and there isn't anyone near by?
There will be times when our journey is dark, is difficult, is painful.
By
mentioning this in this manner, it implies that just because you signed up for
the race or start it doesn't mean that you will finish it.
Matthew 7:21
21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
SIGN UP
for the race
Sounds a
little bit over simplified but you cannot just show up to one of the events and
just run......okay you can but it doesn't count. So if you don't "SIGN UP" to be a Christian
then your race won't count. The second part of Matthew 7:21 is those who do the will of My Father.
HEAR, BELIEVE,
REPENT, CONFESS, BE BAPTISED
WEAR
YOUR RACE BIB
You will
need to put your bib on and wear it on your front. Everyone will know you are
part of the race. So don't you also need to wear your Christianity Bib? Showing
everyone that you are a Christian? However it isn't a jersey. It is your light.
Matthew 5:14-16
14
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and
it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We show others and proclaim Jesus & the
truth by our light & our good works.
PREPARE
YOURSELF
Do you
think we can just wake up one morning......like Forrest Gump.....and run a
marathon. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to dressing and preparing. I did it in
football by making sure everything was perfect for the tape on my ankles or
gear or knee wraps. I still do it for a race. Socks are just right, knee wrap
isn't wrinkled. Everything just right to avoid distractions. (Remember the distractions part...I will come
back to that later.)
Ephesians 6:14-17
Stand
therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate
of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
When you
look at the front line of those getting ready to run......you don't see a guy
dressed in a snow parka, boots and a backpack full of sodas a Twinkies for the
journey!
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares
us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy
that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God.
BUNCH
HERE!
First we
have all those saints before us cheering us that have finished the race.
ENCOURAGEMENT
People
are along side the race, from volunteers to strangers just watching, calling
your name, telling you that you've got this. It's a good run. They don't know
me but they call out my name because it's on my bib.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Just the
coming together here this morning and other times is an encouragement.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 & 14
11
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
14
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted,
uphold the weak, be patient with all.
WATER
STOPS ( along with encouragement)
Our
nourishment is God’s Word and prayer. God’s Word strengthens and sustains us
throughout our journey. Prayer is where we refuel and receive the supernatural
power and healing that we need to continue.
2. GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT HINDERS.
At
mile 16, I got a rock in my shoe. I tried to ignore it, but it started in my
heel and worked its way to the bottom of my foot. I had a decision to make. If
I stop to take my shoe off and get rid of the rock, I lose time. If I keep
running with the rock in my
shoe,
my foot would become raw by the time I finish and it may stop me from
finishing. I stopped, took my show off and got rid of the rock. It cost me some
time, but I finished the race.
Disney, 25,000 runners, Shamrock 3,500. Disney there were too many
people that were walking. Made me feel it was okay to walk. It was okay to be
like everyone else.
In
our journey, there will be many hindrances that will endanger our finish. We
will have decisions to make. Decide to get rid of anything that will hinder
your mission. It's those distractions that I talked about before. You may be struggling
with a hindrance right now; something that will keep you from fulfilling your
mission in life. Get rid of it. Finish the race.
3. WATCH OUT FOR WRONG TURNS.
Around
mile 22, I took a wrong turn and by the time I figured out that I was going
down the wrong path, I added two tenths of a mile onto my distance. Now two
tenths does not seem much, but after you have run 22 miles, believe me, two
tenths is a lot. When I reached mile 26.2 and should have been done, I wasn’t.
I had to press on because I added extra distance on to my marathon.
In
life there are many opportunities to take wrong turns. If we take those turns,
it will add distance to our journey and increase our struggle to finish. Be
cautious. Stay on the path that Jesus has set for you. Jesus is The Only Way to
the finish line.
4. STAY FOCUSED.
I do everything possible to remain focused during a run. Music to
zone out, I don't really hear the words. Just background noise. I focus on the
path in front of me. I would really enjoy looking up and seeing my
surroundings......but I seem to look down the ever passing aggregate. One rock
at a time.....one step at a time.
On
our Christian walk, there will be pain and suffering along the way. To endure,
we must stay focused on the purpose of our walk. Our purpose is to continue the
ministry of Jesus. To stay focused, we must fix our eyes on Jesus. Jesus will
get us across the finish line.
Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started sinking into the water.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV back to this scripture
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.
8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and
cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed,
rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
......right
then, my pinky toe offendeth me.......so I sprinted with a little gimp. As I crossed the finish line I was
able to hug family and give my body much needed rest. It felt so good when they
placed the medal around my neck. I had finished the race and received the
prize.
Beloved, run the race to receive the prize.
Your reward for Christian service is great.
1. Pace yourself for the
long haul.
2. Get rid of anything
that hinders.
3. Watch out for wrong
turns.
4. Stay focused on
Jesus.
Finish the race.
Receive the prize.
Hebrews 12:1 "the race that is set before us."
I try
not to dwell on how slow I am or rather how others are faster than me. It's my
race....I try to better myself each time. 21 min 17 secs better.
1. We each
have our own race to run! That is, you cannot run in my lane and I cannot run
in yours!
2. We are
not in competition, but we are on the same team! My job isn't to outrun you, my
job is to run for Jesus, the race that He has planned for me.
3. Our
course has been individually designed! The race you are running has been
prepared just for you. The best thing we can do is run our race to the best of
our God-given ability.
INVITATION:
Are you prepared for the race? Have you taken the steps?
HEAR, BELIEVE, REPENT, CONFESS, BE BAPTISED
Time is
our enemy. Sometimes we push aside what we know is ever pressing towards us. No
matter how prepared or unprepared, We never know when our race stops:
The first marathoner.....ran from Marathon Greece to
Athens died after delivering the message from the battlefield that the Persians
had been defeated.
Cameron Gallager age 16 from Richmond trained nine
weeks with her best friend. They ran side by side the whole race. Parents saw
her finish with a smile from ear to ear. 50 yards past the finish line she
collapsed.
The
self-discipline that we need in our service to God and others is given to us by
the Spirit of God that resides within us. 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of
love and of self-discipline."
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