The gravestone of one of my ancestors reads, \u201c\u00a0I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith\u201d (2\u202fTimothy 4:7, KJV). This metaphor-filled declaration by Paul to Timothy came when the apostle neared death in prison. Now especially meaningful at the end of an Olympic year, finishing the race signifies the difference between endurance and despair.<\/p>\n
Just what is this race we\u2019re running? It\u2019s not the rat race, not a \u201ckeeping up with the Joneses\u201d lifestyle nor the struggle of keeping up appearances. No, the race the apostle Paul referred to represents following and serving Jesus Christ to the end, whether that end is death or Christ\u2019s return, regardless what obstacles appear in the path.<\/p>\n
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Finishing the race requires endurance. But how do we keep going with so much to deter us? From church spats to the stress of daily life, from feeling so different from others to wondering just when will Jesus come; addictions, distractions, comparisons to others \u2014 all conspire to knock us out of the race.<\/p>\n
Even our own perceived failures at such things as career or marriage can discourage us spiritually. The Tempter attempts to use our weaknesses as justification to quit \u2014 even temporarily, like the hare that raced against the tortoise in Aesop\u2019s fable.<\/p>\n
Who would ever think that a slow, short-legged creature in a constricting shell could finish a race ahead of a speedy rabbit? However, the tortoise demonstrated endurance in the face of slim odds. Endurance is not simply powered by positive thinking, such as the train engine that chugged, \u201cI think I can, I think I can\u201d up the mountain.<\/p>\n
Rather, a combination of factors supports the endurance needed to continue with Christ to the end. Christ himself finished the race set before Him, though faced with detractors. We can look to Him for an example of endurance through vision, focus, and commitment.<\/p>\n
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Children are masters of vision. They look forward to their next birthday, sometimes far in advance, not always understanding clearly how long the wait may be. They have dreams of the special day filled with cake and gifts. We are all endowed with this ability to visualize a possible future, bringing hope amid the struggle.<\/p>\n
When Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world, He was referring to an invisible kingdom seen with spiritual eyes, one that currently anticipates His future, final, visible kingdom (John 18:36). Seeing ourselves as part of that kingdom, now and forever, gives us the vision that motivates us to persist in the race through rough terrain.<\/p>\n
As Jesus faced the roughest terrain of His earthly life \u2014 His
\ntrial and crucifixion \u2014 He saw Himself \u201csitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven\u201d (Mark 14:62). Similarly, the early church leader Stephen, after angering a Jewish council that suspected him of blasphemy, further incited the council by sharing his vision of \u201cthe Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!\u201d (Acts 7:56).<\/p>\n
As we lift our own eyes above this passing earth to envision our seat \u201cin the heavenly places in Christ Jesus\u201d (Ephesians 2:6), rough patches on the course seem smoother.<\/p>\n
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Any serious athlete will agree that you can\u2019t go far without intense focus. Inherent in this word is the idea that thoughts unrelated to the task at hand must go. An Olympic swimmer glancing at the competition may lose a precious one-hundredth of a second \u2014 enough to lose the gold.<\/p>\n
From age twelve, when Jesus astounded the teachers in the temple with His understanding (Luke 2:46-49), to the day He was lifted up into heaven, Jesus\u2019 emphasis was on His Father\u2019s business and His own role in it \u201cto suffer and to rise from the dead\u201d (24:46). He fulfilled His purpose to provide remission of sins by His death and our repentance (vv. 44-49). Christ\u2019s life exemplified throwing off distractions, such as the Devil\u2019s sly offers in the wake of His baptism (4:1-13) and extreme suffering as He laid down His life. Jesus not only demonstrated focus but also taught the importance of it for His followers in saying, \u201cNo one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God\u201d (9:62).<\/p>\n
Focus is a matter of choices. What do we really want?<\/p>\n
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Finishing the race requires commitment, which stems from the conviction that \u201cHe is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him\u201d (Hebrews 11:6). The over-confident hare of Aesop\u2019s fable took a break from the race, convincing himself it wouldn\u2019t make any difference. He did not diligently pursue the prize.<\/p>\n
My own experience tells me I reap spiritual rewards of guidance and grace when I sow time and attention in my walk with the Lord. The temptation to grow sluggish is strong, but those who are diligent until the end inherit the promises (vv. 11, 12). Again, we see an example in Christ: \u201cI do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me\u201d (John 5:30). In the same spirit, Christians commit to following Christ where He goes (12:26).<\/p>\n
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The Christ we follow sympathizes with our weaknesses and temptations along the way. However, we are expected to come to Him boldly for grace to help our need (4:15, 16) and to not give up and wallow in a pit of failure. When we don\u2019t succeed at some goal in life, a well-meaning supporter will likely remark, \u201cWell, you gave it your best shot.\u201d Thankfully, in Christ, we need not rely on our best shot to finish the race for the crown of righteousness given by the righteous Judge for all who love His appearing (2\u202fTimothy 4:8).<\/p>\n
Even so, if we are to \u201crun with endurance the race that is set before us\u201d (Hebrews 12:1), we must first lay aside whatever weighs us down and, by God\u2019s grace, run the race to the finish.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t despair; endure!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The gravestone of one of my ancestors reads, \u201c\u00a0I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith\u201d (2\u202fTimothy 4:7, KJV). This metaphor-filled declaration by Paul to Timothy came when the apostle neared death in prison. Now especially meaningful at the end of an Olympic year, finishing the race […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":288,"featured_media":3486,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n