Race Running

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1,2)

Cynth took me to the tobyMac concert at the Patriot Center a few weekends ago. It was a part of my birthday present. Imagine that! We heard some great new music from House of Heroes and Brandon Heath, touring with tobyMac and the Diverse City band for his Winter Wonder Slam. Mr. McKeehan, in addition to producing some of the best music with deep Christian messages, also spend time organizing and running a half marathon to raise money for New Hope Academy in Franklin, TN.

I mention this because I am not much of a runner. I can (or could) run, but it is not my cup of tea, and it is a little difficult to understand why someone would go through the pain. I know that people who run as a matter of their routine have valid reasons for running. For them, their purpose becomes their focus and the ting they keep fixed on to run the race to completion. So it is with following Christ.

We cannot hope to endure the evil we experience in the brokenness wrought by our sin if our focus is not Christ. With the rebellion of Adam, we didn't just gain an ability to identify good and evil. That single act ensures that we experience good and evil. Though the evil takes many manifestations in the outward, inwardly it is all the same. We reject God. We reject his gift of love - his son. We reject his mercy and grace. We reject his truth and his law. We reject his covenant. The only hope we have is to submit wholly to his kingship.

So be encouraged, though storms come throughout your days, know that God is with you, he wil never leave you, and you cannot run far enough from him that he won' use every means possible for restoring you. Get fixed in Christ and keep your focus on him for the endurance to persevere. Wonderfully, all we really bring is ourselves. All the rest is given by God, for his great glory.