Run Child, Run!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

There are 2 words in this verse that scare me… run & race! I'm not a runner. I've never  claimed to be a runner. I will most likely not become a runner. I'm really not even competitive. Oh, I've ran before, but it's never been enjoyable for me. I could walk for exercise everyday, and a few times I've trained for a little race with friends. But as a lifetime exercise choice… it's not happening!

So, that being said, once I got over the shock of those two words appearing in scripture I began meditating on this verse and, I am amazed at all that it contains! Today I want to focus on what is meant by "let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out for us." 

I studied the word "race" and found it to mean a course having a set duration. "Run" means to move at a steady pace faster than walking. "Perseverance" is defined as continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, opposition, or failure.

Now let's look at these words in the context of the book of Hebrews. Chapter 12 begins by saying "We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses." This refers to examples of solid faith journeys. The previous chapter of Hebrews lists many "greats" from the old testament such as Moses, Joseph, Abraham, and Rahab. We can look to these Biblical heroes with confidence and find encouragement from them because they too were only human and finished their lives as worthy in God's eyes.

Let's look at Abraham for example. God chose Abraham as the one through which He would make himself known to the world beginning with Isreal. God had a plan for Abraham's life… Abraham's race was set before him.

Abraham responded to God's call in faith, but he was at times faithless. Twice he offered his wife up in exchange for his own protection. God had Abraham run this lap of the race to shed some baggage (faithlessness), so that the next leg of his journey would be run better. Abraham had to run steadily because the wait for his promised son took and additional 25 years after the promise to be fulfilled. That required patience and perseverance. Runners call this "training." God later asked Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice. Whoop! There goes the idolatry weight that was strapped around his neck. God knew that Abraham's journey would be a long one. So as the race wore on, God continued to train Abraham and help lighten his load of earthly issues in exchange for more of God and his goodness.

Like Abraham, God has a plan for our lives. He will train us and prepare us. He will help eliminate the baggage in our lives that is weighing us down.  The course is marked out for us with trials and blessings. Our training will require that we depend on the strength of our Father because we will grow weary in our own strength. Satan will place traps along the course causing us to stumble at times. But as we look to those heroes of the old testament and those in our lives who are along the sidelines cheering us on by their examples and their testimonies we will be spurred on to run the next leg of the race with renewed energy.

Now I ask you… How's your training going? Are you running like a gazelle or a wounded buffalo? Are you ready to give up or revved up for the next lap?  Scripture has more to say on training, tons of examples of previous runners who lead by example, and more than enough encouragement for the duration of the race. Get in the Word and fuel up!

If you're running like a gazelle keep on going and train others. If you're a wounded buffalo, seek the coaching and expertise of a mentor. Regardless of where you are in the race, run steady for the race is long and challenging. But oh, the joy you will experience when you are crowned at the end of the race!

Come on! You can do it! Keep going! Hang in there!