"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." 1 Corinthians 9:24
Exercise may or may not be for you. You may joke that the only time you run is if someone is chasing you! There's all sort of runners in this world. Personally, I love to run. I find comfort and strength in a good hard run. It's a way to release stress and gather my thoughts. I'm not the fastest or best runner by any means, but I try to enjoy every run and make it count.
Whether you realize it or not you are running a race. We all are. Life is a race. It's not about how fast you run or the length of time it took you to finish. In fact, the act of "running" is actually just a forward motion. Envision yourself going through each day. Each moment of your life is a part of your journey. There is no turning back, only that forward motion. One day your race will be over and all that will be left is a memory. A memory and your legacy.
What kind of race are you running? Do you grumble and complain from one day to the next? Is your race full of excuses why your performance could have been better? Do you get easily distracted and easily persuaded by others? When the world tells you to turn right because that's where the party is, do you listen? :) Or perhaps others try to convince you to quit, depriving you of the confidence it takes to finish strong.
Hopefully by comparison, you are a cheerful runner! One who chooses to run fastidiously from one strength to another ready to take on every challenge. Other runners admire you because you press ahead faithfully, persistently, and give all that you have.
A steadfast runner doesn't look left or right but instead stays focused on the finish line and the ultimate prize. As they keep their eye on the mark others see their fierce determination and choose to emulate such dedication. A spark is ignited and the desire to achieve a grand finish becomes infectious.
When it comes to this life, we are each given just one opportunity-one RACE. There will not be ONE single winner. All runners who have kept their eyes focused on the finish and kept their faith will receive the greatest prize of all. The judge of eternal life sits on His throne at the end of our journey. He does not discriminate and has given each of us the option to receive the same reward. All we have to do is accept His gift. It's free for those who accept it and believe in Him.
He has watched how we have "run" our race and He knows that we may not be the fastest runner or the one who has put in the most miles. To Him, none of that matters. What does matter is whether or not we've chosen to stay on the course and finish the race. Did we keep or lose our faith? Did we waver or stay strong and committed?
The race I am running is already filled with imperfections and many mistakes. I try to learn from each one so that I won't repeat them in the future.
What I would like for people to see is a fierce determination and steadfast runner who refuses to give up. A runner who keeps her eyes on the finish, has a love for others, a love for life, and a love for Christ. I want to stay the course so that when I take my last breath, I will know WITHOUT question that "I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have KEPT the faith."
(2 Timothy 4:7)
For the skeptic or atheist, you may roll your eyes, laugh, or think I have lost my mind! :) All of that is okay by me. I know that my days on earth are numbered. Dealing with a debilitating chronic illness makes it even easier for me to appreciate each day, whether it be good or bad. Life is short and precious. The truth is, I will not live forever. None of us will. My life will also most likely be cut short due to my illness. How do I deal with that? I choose NOW to step up to the starting line and give it all that I have. With every ounce of faith in me, I will do my best to remain steadfast and stay the course all the way to the finish line. So what if I'm wrong and there is no God, no heaven, no "prize" at the end of this life? When I die, I just die? Nothing happens, I just slowly disintergrate underground.
If I choose not to believe and there is a God, I have everything to lose. By denying the one who gave His life to save ours, we automatically forfeit the prize at the end of our race. When that prize happens to be eternal life it's the loss of a lifetime.
So what if my beliefs are accurate? What if I told you that based on life experience, near death experiences and a whole lot of other craziness in between, I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt, there is a God?
I can tell you now what that means for me is that I choose to run the race of a lifetime! It's the only one I have and the only chance I get. When my heart stops beating and my broken body stops, I will have reached the finish. The shell of what is left of my body will remain, but my spirit will soar for eternity. My final resting place (my prize) will be a place of no more pain, no more tears, no sadness or grief and NO MORE CROHN'S DISEASE!
I hope today that you are running the kind of race that you'd like to be running. If you aren't, it isn't too late to get back on that course!! You won't regret it and after all it IS the race of your lifetime!
