Finishing the Race

Christmas is over, and another holiday season is winding down. As the days speed on toward December 31 and the beginning of a new year, many people begin to consider changes they want to make. From year to year there is little change in the top New Year's resolutions: losing weight, getting a better job or education, volunteering or undertaking some charitable project, and several others. Regardless of how the last twelve months have gone, the New Year seems uniquely suited to resolutions to become fitter, healthier, happier, and new people.

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All too often, however, this "New Year, New You" attitude is not long-lasting. In fact, if the statistics can be believed, almost 25 percent of people who set New Year's resolutions don't keep them through the first week of January! Perhaps part of the reason we fail is because we tend to set unrealistic goals, but part is also because, although we know what we need to do, we're just not prepared.

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We are unsure where to start, how to maintain progress, or how to keep focused, and we end up just giving up.

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Throughout the Bible, God uses illustrations to help us understand the nature of the Christian life.

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In 2 Timothy, the Christian life is a war and we are to be good soldiers in it:

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TIMOTHY 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians, the Christian life is a fight—a type of boxing match:

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1 CORINTHIANS 9:26

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26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

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And in Hebrews 12, the picture we see is of an arena, perhaps for track and field athletes, encircled by a "great host" of spectators, much like we see in the Olympic games. The runners are those believers who were experiencing the trials of the first-century church. Paul understood what persecution was like. He was imprisoned not far from the Roman Coliseum where many Christians suffered and were murdered. And having experienced plenty of trials himself, he said in 2 Timothy:

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2 TIMOTHY 4:6-7

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6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

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7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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Paul had finished his race; now the author of Hebrews was challenging the runners to finish theirs.

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If we plan on doing anything for the Lord with our lives in the coming year, we, too, must lace up and get on the track and in the race. We must accept the great privilege of beginning a year with God during which only He knows what is in store.

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Many try to predict what will happen in a country in the course of a new year, but the truth is no one knows what the year will hold: not the government, the media, or so-called economic or climate experts. Our course is known only to God.

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Every moment of a new year is a gift from God.

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If we want to make the best of these moments, we must first take time to prepare so that we know what to expect.

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I. The Foundation For the Race

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The Preparation for the Race (v. 1)

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God wants each of us to be prepared for the race He's called us to run. He speaks to the issue in verse 1:

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HEBREWS 12:1

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1 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,

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As we prepare for the race of the Christian life in the New Year, we must first consider two important tasks:

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A. Remove the hindrances.

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The first-century Olympians, the early runners of the Greek games, typically wore robes throughout the day. These flowing garments had to be set aside for the races. Although they were necessary to one part of life, the robes were a weight, unhelpful and unnecessary for the purpose of running a race. And while we no longer use robes as daily public wear, today's Olympic athletes will still set aside certain activities or habits in order to focus on their training so they will perform better in the Games.

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There are many things in our lives that must also be set aside if we want to run our race effectively. While not all of these things are necessarily sinful, they are activities, items, or passions that must be set aside if we are going to run a good race for the Lord.

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EPHESIANS 4:22

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22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

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As the army of Alexander the Great was advancing on Persia, it seemed at one critical point the troops might be defeated. The soldiers had taken so much plunder from their previous campaigns that they'd become weighted down and were losing speed and effectiveness in combat.

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Alexander commanded that all the spoils from previous battles be thrown into a heap and burned. His men complained bitterly but soon saw the wisdom of his order. With his insistence on ridding his men of the weight of their plunder, he assured their victory in future battles. Someone later wrote, "It was as if wings had been given to them-they walked lightly again."

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Certain hobbies, friendships, habits, or activities commonly creep into our schedules and our lives that are really just clutter. They weigh us down because they occupy time or mental focus that should be given to the Lord to fulfill the responsibilities and opportunities which He has given to us. We must set aside everything that will hold us back from going on for God-any sin or just plain old clutter that keeps us from being who God wants us to be— and be renewed as we get back to focusing on Him:

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EPHESIANS 4:23

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23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

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B. Repent from sin.

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The word repent means "to change your mind" or "turn away" from something. If we are to run a good race, we must not only remove hindrances, but we must also turn from sin.

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HEBREWS 12:1

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1 ...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us....

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The sin that easily besets us is that sin that constantly discourages us or brings shame, the one we continually come back to despite knowing it will always bring us trouble. Many Christians deal with besetting sins of pride and procrastination. These sins and others will hinder us from going on for God like we should. Rather, we must make up our minds that in the New Year we will put aside these sins so that we have no distractions from our race.

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PSALM 18:23

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23 I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.

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If there's a besetting sin that you need to turn from today, the good news is it doesn't have to win. Repent today; ask God for cleansing and healing; and determine to live rightly before Him. If you have tried in the past but struggled to gain ongoing victory, share your struggle with a spiritual leader and ask for prayer sup-port-and perhaps counseling or training specific to the sin which you are battling.

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To run a good race in the New Year, one thing is certain—we must prepare for it by laying aside every weight or sin which would hold us back.

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II. The Focus in the Race

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The Pace of the Race

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For many people, running is an intimidating sport.

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It's not the idea of running that's frightening. After all, we were made to use our feet in this way, so running requires little advanced instruction. The hang up for many people is the pace. They become overwhelmed, thinking, "Sure, I could make it to the mailbox or maybe the end of the street. But what about everything after that?"

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Many times we don't set the New Year's goals we should, whether to be more faithful to personal devotions or to become a closer-knit family, because, when we think of all that is involved to reach those goals, we become overwhelmed. But God will not try us above what we're able to do. His pace is sus-tainable, and He designed this race to be obtain-able. He wants everyone to be a winner.

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A. It's a set pace.

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HEBREWS 12:1

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set before us,

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...and let us run with patience the race that is

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Notice we are to run the race-not a race or whichever race is "set before us." Our life race is specific. The word translated in our English Bible as run is the Greek word trekk'-o, from which we get the word track. Just as the lanes on a racetrack are predetermined, we know that certain things about the race of life have already been determined as well.

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Our course is set. Have you ever noticed the design of a racetrack? Most tracks are circular or oval shaped, with a number of lanes designating the specific path each runner should follow. Unless you watch a race from the beginning lap, it can sometimes be confusing to determine which athlete is in first place; and just because a runner is ahead of another does not mean he or she is actually winning.

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One of the worst things we can do is compare our progress with other people who seem to be doing better. This is unhelpful because it ruins our motivation and detracts from our focus.

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But the Scriptures tell us it's also unwise.

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2 CORINTHIANS 10:12

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12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

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While we may have different routes, each of us has a course set by God.

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1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27

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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. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight

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I, not as one that beateth the air:

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27 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.

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Some Christians love to tell others how they should run their course, particularly if these Christians have experienced a small measure of success themselves. But as we run, we should keep in mind that, if we are doing well, it's not of our doing but God's. We should give Him the glory and just keep running. And if we are not as far down the lane as the runners next to us, we should keep our gaze trained on Him. Our course is between us and God, and it is set.

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Our completion is set. Not only is our course set, but our completion is set as well. No one runs forever. Every day is a gift from God, and there is a set length of time that we are given to be on the earth.

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JAMES 4:14

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Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

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Paul knew that the only life worth living was the one in which we run our best race with God every day:

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2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

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6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand

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7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown

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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.

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Life is short. Live it to the fullest for Jesus Christ. Don't squander the time you have on earth trying to run someone else's course or comparing yourself to others; rather, invest your life wisely for Him.

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B. It's a steady pace.

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Verse 1 not only instructs us to run, but how to run: "let us run with patience."

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Runners training for a marathon are often advised to begin slowly, gradually adding miles to their weekly runs but keeping a consistent pace to avoid early burnout. While sprinting is suitable for covering short distances quickly, applying that mindset to a longer race will only result in fatigue and failure.

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Just as in a marathon, the Christian's race is won one step at a time. It was not meant to be a sprint; that pace is unsustainable for a lifetime.

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We must find a steady pace and be patient to keep at it. You don't have to read the whole Bible by January 3. You don't have to develop a lifetime habit of personal devotions in a single week. You just have to keep going, keep putting one foot in front of the other. If we are patient and faithful, although each day may not show impressive progress, by this time next year we will rejoice in discovering how far we've come.

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One thing is certain as we set out on our race: there will be trials. And we must be patient when they come:

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JAMES 1:2-3

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My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

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That word patience is taken from the Greek upomonh, which means "steadfastness, con-stancy, or endurance." In the New Testament, it describes a person who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose.

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No matter how difficult trials may be, God can use them to strengthen us. Things that you never could have foreseen will present themselves in this next year, and they may threaten to derail your progress or to distract you from your purpose. Be patient; determine that you will not be swayed from your purpose. God has a plan, and it is not a plan to cause you grief or harm; it is a plan to develop you (for your good and His glory) into the person He made you to be.

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God's great men experienced plenty of trials, and they also had times of testing; Abraham, Joshua, the apostle Paul, and many others were tested in their faith. In these times we must be patient as well.

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JAMES 5:8

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8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

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Illustration

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In Athens, long ago, games used to be held in honor of Grecian gods. One such game was the torch race, a race of torchbearers, run at night in honor of Prometheus, the god of fire. The starting point was a mile and a half outside the city, in the olive grove where Plato met with his Academy and where a sanctuary to Prometheus was built. The winner was not necessarily the first runner who reached the finish line.

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The winner was the runner who first reached the finish line with his torch still burning. Running with a burning torch requires pacing and patience.

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This year, keep your torch-the light of your testimony of the gospel of Christ—lit as you run your race. Run with patience, stay in love with Jesus, and be faithful to God. If you can do these things despite the trials and testing that will surely come your way, you will be victorious.

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III. The Finish of the Race

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The Pursuit of Our Race (v. 2)

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We have already seen that we are not in this race of life to win a temporary and corruptible prize like a gold medal; we run for something far more valuable and permanent. The prize of our race is Jesus.

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We are ever running after Him.

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Hebrews 12:2

KJV 1900

2 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.

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A. We're pursuing a Person.

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Paul wrote that the goal of his life, the primary purpose for his race and the trials and testing he endured, was knowing Jesus:

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PHILIPPIANS 3:10

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10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

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In these final days before the New Year, we should take time to reset our compass and our focus, keeping in mind that, like Paul, our goal is Jesus. Many people measure the success of a year by the type of talent or technology they can acquire or the amount of wealth or education they can accrue. "Success" by the world's definition is likely to change and shift with the times. But Jesus never changes:

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HEBREWS 13:8

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8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

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The key to success is following, not simply admiring, Jesus. Hebrews 12:2-3 reminds us of two specific truths about Jesus:

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He endured the cross. The word endure means "to abide under; to keep going courageously," and we know Jesus endured the shame and pain of the cross for us (Hebrews 12:2).

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Although we may not face the type of persecution He did, there will be some things we must endure:

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JAMES 1:12

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12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

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There will be times in this next year when it seems the battles just keep coming. When they keep coming, we must keep going.

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He endured the contradiction. Jesus knew what it was to face opposition from other people. During His ministry on earth He encountered many who refused His message, mocked Him, and outright contradicted His claim that He was the Son of God. Yet in these times He remembered His purpose was to do His Father's will.

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PSALM 69:20

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20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

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When it seems others are against us or are not supporting our purpose, we must remember that Jesus experienced the same things we do and that He's there for us, cheering us on and giving grace to finish our race for Him.

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B. We're Pursuing a Pattern.

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Many things in life are easier to learn and do if we are first given a pattern to follow. God knew this, and He sent the perfect pattern to us: His Son.

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HEBREWS 12:3

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3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

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When we "consider Him," we consider His example. Jesus, in fact, is our ultimate ex-ample.

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1 PETER 2:21-23

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21 For even hereunto were ye called: because

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Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

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Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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As we "consider Him," we also consider His endurance.

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Illustration

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The story is told of runner Beth Anne DeCian-tis' attempt to qualify for the 1992 Olympic Trials Marathon. The qualification rules stipulated a female runner must finish the 27-mile race in under 2 hours and 45 minutes in order to compete at the Olympic Trials. Ms. DeCiantis was making great time but began having trouble around Mile 23. Two hundred yards from the finish line, and with just two minutes left to qualify, she stumbled and fell. The clock kept ticking and she struggled to her feet and began walking only to fall again with ten seconds to go. Determined to finish the race and as a crowd of spectators cheered her on, DeCi-antis pulled herself to her hands and knees and crawled over the finish line. Her finishing time was 2:44:57. She had qualified for the Trials with 3 seconds to spare.

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Jesus endured the contradiction of sinners and the shame of the cross. He did not quit, and neither must we-not on our marriages, not on our families, and not on our God:

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1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

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58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

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TEACHING TIP

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You might find it helpful to share with your class a few stories of Christians that persevered through trials and persecution and kept the faith for God's glory. These stories can be found in many places, but one resource is Foxe's Book of Martyrs.