Paul compares the Christian life to running a race. This means continuous movement, and constantly advancing and going forward.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
Which direction are we running? The following verse, Hebrews 12:2 tells us that we follow Jesus, Who is going before us. “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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The destination of Jesus was the throne of God in heaven, and that is also our destination, if we keep running faithfully to the end. If we turn our eyes away from Jesus we will lose the right direction. We start sinking like Peter, who was walking on the water, until he turned his eyes away from Jesus, and that moment he stopped advancing and started sinking down.
Paul also tells us to lay aside every weight and sin. Sin will stop us from advancing, but the weights also slow us down. Sportsmen who run a race do not carry any weight with them. The weights that slow us down in our Christian race can be activities that may not be sinful, but they take our time away from Bible reading, missionary work, and religious meetings. Also they may take our eyes away from Jesus.
Can you be watching a sports game and be thinking of Jesus and continue a prayer conversation with God? Only activities that will help us in our Christian journey are the activities which Jesus had during His life on earth. Many hobbies may not be sinful, but they take our time from running the race. To many Christians religion is a gamble. They do not know if they will win in the end. It is like buying a lottery ticket; there is a chance to win, but it is not sure.
But Peter writes to us, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” 2 Peter 1:10
It is possible to make our election sure. When we know that God has accepted us, this will give great joy and happiness. Paul knew that he will be in heaven. He writes, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Paul fought a good fight. He ran the race to the victory, and he is encouraging others to do the same. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
If we leave our salvation to someone else, we do not know the outcome, but when we do it ourselves, then we can be sure of what we are doing, and how fast we are running. Our lifetime is short, we cannot advance slowly, or we will never make it to the end. The condition that we must reach and fulfill is, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Anything short of this will be a failure.
How many Christians read the Bible for one hour and advance spiritually, and then put the television on for two hours, and fall back to where they started. Or they goes to church to learn how to run the race successfully, and then they meets with worldly friends, and spends time in foolish talking, and all the good learning in the church is lost. This is exactly what Jesus meant in His parable of sowing the seed, “And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.” Matthew 13:4
So, daily we are advancing on this narrow way towards perfection, or we are backsliding. Of old Israel God said, “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” Jeremiah 8:5
These backsliders are victims of Satan, and he purposely leaves them in the churches with a purpose to confuse others. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15
Seventh-day Adventist churches in Europe in 1914 were deceived by their leaders to participate in the war and fight against their enemies, even on Sabbath. If the leaders have been faithful, then many of the members would have been faithful also.
Paul saw the danger and gave warning to the churches. “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30
Solomon was watching the race that God’s people were running and he said, ” I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11
He saw that the talented, intelligent, fastest, and capable were not the winners in this race, but the slowest were winning. Also, the strongest did not win the battle against sin. Samson was the strongest in physical strength, but morally he was weak.
Paul writes more about running the Christian race, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
We all can be winners in the race if we run it like Paul did. If we stop for a moment from running we start backsliding. Let us also keep our eyes on our Leader, Jesus Christ, that we would not run in the wrong direction. Let us use all our energy and our time running this race, and not neglect the mediums that God has provided for our salvation, which are prayer, Bible reading, church meetings, health reform, and missionary work; and thus we will meet each other in heaven. Amen.
Timo Martin