Are you a spectator? Are you a sport’s announcer? Are you a runner? What have you selected to be in the most important event in this world, the race for eternal life?
Do you look at the Church and say, “I could never do what they do”? You may think it takes a special person to be a part of the greatest race in the earth, but the truth is anybody can join.
You don’t have to get in shape before signing up. You can come just as you are. We have the best coach in the business. I guarantee that if you’re humble enough to do everything He asks you to, you’ll be fit in no time. All it takes is faith and obedience.
You say the hurdles down the track look intimidating? Well, that’s what I said at first. But get this! Every hurdle is fashioned to each individual. They will never be higher than you can jump! Isn’t that amazing? The course is set up so you can't fail.
You don’t even train to be fast so don’t worry about being first or last. As a matter of fact, the more patient you are the better. Just keep your eyes on the prize.
Please. Don’t continue to be a spectator on the bleachers looking at and cheering on the runners. Come on down to the field and eternal life will be yours to win too. Get in the race!
You say you go to church every Sunday because it’s the thing to do? You used to get involved with the activities and ministries of your church, but you retired your zeal and no longer feel it's necessary to participate. Are you content with just kind of being there?
You've become an announcer. You know, the one that sits in the booth and talks about everybody running the race. You're satisfied with critiquing everyone’s faults and occasionally praising them for their effort to win.
Most sports announcers ran the race themselves at some point but have gotten old and tired (that’s the generous interpretation of traditional and slothful). They no longer have the enthusiasm to compete.
So, they just sit back and enjoy the profession of a commentator. You can't win the prize that way. Get back in the race!
Calling all runners! We can’t quit now. The race is almost over. Just a few more hurdles and it will all be over. I know it’s been rough. I fell a few times myself. Some people saw me fall and kept on running, but thank God somebody stopped and encouraged me to get up.
I can’t see the finish line but I feel it’s right around the bend. I’ve got to keep pressing. Jesus promised that one moment with the prize would pay for it all. Christ helped me begin and he’ll help me to the end. He is the author and the finisher you know.
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James, this was terrific. I liked the fact that you aimed it in more than one direction--spectators, announcers, and runners. The concept of running the race isn’t all that new, but what you did with it was creative and clever, and really got the point across. Well done.
With Love, Deb (Editor, FaithWriters’ Magazine and Challenge Coordinator)
