“Finish the Race”

The beginning of the race was an easy race for both runners. It was very  flat, with no hills or obstacles to overcome. They both continued to run  together until they came to the (foothill of a huge mountain). They both  stopped wondering what to do next? They were not expecting this! They  could not see what was beyond the mountains, so they asked some people  in the nearby town, what lies beyond those mountains?

They said: "You don’t want to go over those mountains.” That is why we are  here. There are dangerous fast moving rivers to cross, and beyond that the  snakes and gators in the swamps, and beyond that the desert and the  “wilderness.” Don’t go any further, but stay here and live with us. There is plenty of work here, the weather is great, and we even have a “new”  Church here.

The one runner said the country is beautiful, and there are plenty of rivers  for fishing, good weather and plenty of work. It looks like a nice place to  raise a family, build a house, and to (work and live). So he stopped there  and did not go any further.

The other runner looked up at those high mountains, and suddenly  remembered what the master had said to him (just before they both left).  The master did tell me it would be difficult at times (suffering, persecution,  trouble, hardships, dangers and being misunderstood).

There would be ups and downs, climbing hills and mountains, walking  through rivers, swamps, deserts and the wilderness. At times he would  walk through (1) “the valley of the shadow of death,” but to fear no evil, because he would be there leading and guiding me every step of the way.  (2) “For His word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (to keep me from stumbling).

Then he also remembered the master saying, (3), at the end of the race is  a prize of (gold, silver, and precious stones) not wood, hay, or stubble. It  had been relatively easy up to this point; do I really want to go on? It would  be much easier just to stay here.

Then he thought, (4) “If I may finish the race and complete the task the  Lord Jesus has given me, (5) therefore I do not run like a man running  aimlessly, but I run straight to the goal, with the purpose of finishing. He was carrying a heavy back of “extra” things he did not need so he decided  to throw away anything he did not need, or would slow him down from  running a good race” (6) Let us lay aside every weight and sin which doth  so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before  us.” (7) Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.  

I strain to reach the end of the race. At the end of this race he said, (8) “I  have fought the good fight, I have finished my course (or race). I have kept  the faith.” At the end of your race will you be able to say, “I have fought a  good fight, I have finished my course (the race God had for me) I have kept  the Faith.”

Now, do not stop, do not quit, “Finish the race”  

Scripture references:

(1) Psalm 23:4                               

(2) Psalms 119:105  

(3) I Corinthians 3:12                    

(4) Acts 20:24  

(5) I Corinthians 9:26                      

(6) Hebrew 12:1  

(7) Philippians 3:13-14  

(8) II Timothy 4:7