Last week I did a thing. Eleven years ago I achieved this same goal, but since then it’s been sitting on my bucket list as something I wanted to accomplish at least one more time. After weeks of training, I lined up with thousands of athletes waiting for the start of our half marathon.
The horn blew and we were off. I had trained on much of the course so I was familiar with and ready to tackle the route. What I hadn’t trained for was the rain and chilly wind that decided to break through our sunny days. The rain turned into a downpour and every attempt to clear my glasses left them smeared from my soaked shirt. We all dodged each other while dodging the puddles. Then I missed and was not only running with soaked clothes but with soggy shoes. And so the bad weather continued for 13.1 miles – on and off, on and off, on and off.
There were moments I wasn’t sure how I would finish. It was grueling and exhilarating at the same time. High fives and shouts of encouragement from the side lines kept us all moving forward. I venture to guess that others were encouraged, as I was, by the back of a t-shirt which read, “Never give up.” Another read, “Pain is short, the reward is worth it.”
Around mile 9, I saw a girl cheering from the sidewalk. The effort to run five extra steps to clap her outstretched hand was too exhausting so I smiled instead. She instinctively ran up beside me in an effort to encourage. It worked. “You got this. Run. Don’t get tired now. You can do this.” I felt my tired legs speed up.
I prayed. I thought. I remembered my training. I focused on the goal. I watched the mile markers count down as we drew closer to the finish line. With less than 1/2 a mile to go, I felt as though I couldn’t move another step. Then right as I neared the last turn, I read a sign that said, “Remember why you started.” I mustered every ounce of energy I had left to keep pushing forward.
Then I saw it. The finish line was close. There were hundreds of people cheering us on and telling us we were almost there. And then, just like that, it was over. I did it. We did it. Our pain, sweat and perseverance were rewarded.
Naturally my mind went to Paul’s illustrations (in the Bible) of our life’s race. Paul knew the hope of Jesus and the reward of following Him. He understood that everything in this life, apart from a relationship with Christ, is temporary. He recognized the importance of focusing on the eternal rather than the temporal and Scripture encourages us to do the same.
We will be attacked by unexpected circumstances but along the way we will also be encouraged by unexpected moments. We are never alone but are surrounded by others who have gone before us as well as those who are running with us.
Jesus is our prize. He is our reward. Scripture tells us the only way to God is through His Son, Jesus. This is not a popular teaching today as many people declare that all roads lead to God. This thought, of course, is a convenient way to justify one’s actions and clear one’s conscience but it is contrary to the Bible.
Scripture tells us that everyone will face eternity. And on that day we will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant” or “Depart from me I never knew you.” This is a sobering thought. Our works, our goodness and our morals will not get us to heaven. It’s through repentance and having a relationship with Jesus that brings us to God.
This race is not always easy but it is worth it.
When I think back to last week, I remember the strange feeling as my adrenaline slowed down and my body stopped running while simultaneously the cold weather took over my senses. My hands were shaky and I could barely use my fingers. But with every memory, there is not one memory of regret.
There were 17,124 people who registered to run. There were 13,303 who started the race and 13,192 who finished.
As you read this, I want to encourage you in your race. Don’t just say you’re going to start. Start! And don’t just start—finish!
If you have started this spiritual journey with Jesus—don’t give up. Hard times are guaranteed, but you are not alone. If you do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, I challenge you to read the book of John in the Bible. Learn about His life and love for you and let Him change your life.
We will all face eternity but how we run the race will determine how our eternity will play out.
To all my readers out there…have a wonderful Monday and week ahead. Let’s run and finish well. 🙂
A few verses from the Bible about running the race….
Hebrews 12:1-2 “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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day-and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 “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. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore `I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight life a man beating the air.”