On your mark, Get set, GO!

There is a race

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), Heb 12:1–2.

Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), 1 Co 9:24–27.

The race that is set before us is not physical, it is spiritual.

this is good news because that means we dont have to be in peak physical condition in order to win this race.

but their is discipline and training involved that requires effort and dedication of olympic proportions

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

how does one usually say or do to start a race?

some variation of on your mark. get set. go

races since the 1800s have been using this idiom “on your mark, Get set, Go.”

How much attention have we ever really given to the phrase?

ON YOUR MARK.

this portion of the idiom refers to the starting spot and lane which the runners are expected to run in.

story about runners who started in their lane

and later drifted. stay in your lane.

New Living Translation (Chapter 7)

How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

We are responsible for our individual run and the way that we run on a personal level impacts the effectiveness of the church as a whole

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people;

now you are God’s people.

Once you received no mercy;

now you have received God’s mercy.”

11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world

If you were to google why are christians so...

this was copy/pasted from gotquestions.org

one of the main results when i googled why are christians.

Jan 4, 2022 — In Western culture, the word Christian has come to signify anyone who likes Christmas and does not identify as belonging to any other religion. Why are Christians so judgmental? | GotQuestions.org Jan 4, 2022 Why are there so many fake Christians? - GotQuestions.org Jan 4, 2022 Why are Christians always arguing? - GotQuestions.org Jan 4, 2022 Why are all Christians hypocrites? - GotQuestions.or

We need to spend less time on comparison and more time in compassion.

In this race there are many different starting marks, but only one finishline.

ill. track eexample.

2. Get Set.

The term “get set” refers to the proper, balanced position needed for the best start to the race.

they began using starting blocks to set for a race in the 1920s but prior to that they simply dug holes in the dirt using trowels provided to them. the problem was that the dirt was inconsistent and the onees preparing the holes were unique.

this led to many false and recalled starts due to runners being incapable of maintaining balance on a consistently shifting surface.

they implemented new start blocks as time developed they have become state of the art, and times have improved with every new introduction.

As a christians we must ensure that we are launching from a stable platform, and that proper foundation is jesus and the things that he has taught us

To “Get Set” as a christian means to have yourself based firmly on Christ as your foundation.

Spiritual disciplines are the simple, but imperative key to being set in your faith.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.”

20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

3. GO!

After finding your mark, and getting set spiritually the next step is turning your Faith outwards.

New Living Translation Chapter 16

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”

Jesus came down and showed them how it could be done with miracles casting out demons and restoration and resurrection to the masses and then he turned and looked at his disciples and said “Go” now its your turn

God has promised to move in these last days. we have an opportunity to participate but are we willing to GO?

there was one relatively recent addition to the starting block that initially perplexed me.

they added speakers to the back of the starting blocks which carried the sound of the starting gun immediately to the runners on the track.

at first i thought “its a gun” why do they need speakers. the truth was that in many venues and areas the speakers werent needed, but when they progressed to the world stage the sound of the gun began to be drowned out by the tremendous crowds and the noise of the stadium.

The danger we face is getting so distracted with the noise and chaos in our lives that we missed God’s call to GO

life happens distractions come. but the disciples continued to work for the kingdom no matter what chaos came. they were in tune with Jesus’ command.

ILL the incredible ears of the runners.

it is not enough to be saved and on your way to heaven. we are directed to go into the world and make disciples.