Christian Living
Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday July 16, 2009
Dr. Joe Stowell tells of ancient Greek runners who ran a unique race in their Olympic games. The winner was not the first one to cross the finish line, but the first one to cross the finish line with his torch still lit.
In our time, in my life, I have heard literally thousands of sermons and speeches on running and finishing the race of life. To be first is a part of the American concept of life. Vince Lombardi is reported to have said, "Winning is not a life or death matter. It's much more important than that." Teams, businesses, even churches like to march to the tune, "We're number one." I know of at least one nationally known evangelist who died young when his star was surpassed by the star of Billy Graham. He could not cope with not being "number one." Another preacher moved from our fair state, mainly due to the fact that he knew he could not surpass the accomplishments of another super duper pastor in our state, so he moved to a weaker state in order to be number one. Amazingly he did become number one in that state, and in fact his achievements will likely outlast those of the other super duper preacher, due to the quality of the ministry.
I know or knew many of the top notch preachers and Christian "Lay" Leaders of the last forty years. They appear to be winners. Yet, when you get around some of them, you soon learn that although they are running in first place, for many, the torch has gone out.
Burnout or bitterness is more apt as the word of the day, than are love, peace and joy. The fire in the torch of God's purpose in their life has been snuffed out by any number of disappointments along the course of the race.
Lest you think I am into disparaging Christian leaders, I have observed the same dimming of the flame in far too many of God's children. We go to church to sit soak and sour. The fire is gone the torch is replaced with the artificial flame of excitement, noise and outright silliness at best.
Dr. Robert Ketchum said, "Few men run well to the end." Perhaps over his long, fruitful life he had observed the sad plight I am trying to describe today, runners in a race that requires fire in the torch, refusing to acknowledge an extinguished flame.
One of the rules of the ancient Torch race permitted the runner to pause and relight the torch. Could this be something we need to do? Do we need to pull over, and be still and know that He is God? Can we quit faking it long enough to admit, that while it appears we are leading the pack, the fire has gone out? And we know it, yet we keep running with an unlit torch.
In the Torch Race, elapsed time is of no account, if the torch is not burning. The cheers of the crowd are as nothing. In the Torch race, the torch must be lit when you cross the finish line if you want to win. How about it? Are you running without fire? Why? Why not stop and ask the Great Giver of Fire, to rekindle the flame, and then you can run with patience, with the Torch aflame.
Larry Lilly Copyright © 2002 revised 2009 Larry Lilly Use with credit
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