Christian Living

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The Christian marathon is a grueling race that takes the Believer through countless challenges and situations. When the road is straight, our effort is rewarded with contentment and satisfaction. Reading our Bibles and praying throughout the early parts of the race is rewarding and encouraging. We feel that we could run forever, knowing that the “pace setter” for this marathon is the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there are other Christians that feel no need to read and pray as much because things are going just fine. There is a complacency and false sense of security. As the race continues, they notice that the terrain is starting to get a little more challenging. Obstacles to their spiritual growth begin to appear. It is during this leg of the marathon that they start complaining and finding fault with their surroundings and other human beings. They don’t read and pray as much for they think they are able to overcome those little hiccups themselves. Soon the race begins its ascent to the hill country. Breathing becomes more labored and doubts begin to etch their way into their thinking. It is time to stir up the Scriptures they have learned over the years, but for some reason they can’t remember the addresses. Hoping for a second wind, they continue on the upward road, struggling to keep up the pace. Fellow Christians try to encourage them, but it seems to have little affect on them. Their carnal resources kick in and they try to overcome what is trying to overcome them. Feelings and emotions take charge. Their spiritual stamina wanes with every step they take. What started out as an exciting adventure has turned into a fight for survival. I know there are many Believers that are running a good race and are able to overcome life’s challenges, but there is a growing number of Christians that are reverting to a “spectator faith” instead of an active faith, and in some cases are dropping out of the race.

One of the causes of decreased spiritual stamina is an overactive Memory Bank. The Memory Bank is a compartment of the brain that contains memories of the past, both negative and positive. To many people, every wound received from others is deposited in their Memory Bank. Every experience that has derailed their happiness is deposited. Every betrayal is deposited. Organizations, such as churches, that have treated them unfairly are deposited in their Memory Bank. A Christian claims to forgive those who “sinned” against them, but to forget is another thing. When sharing why they are not going to church anymore, they whip out a withdrawal slip and supply the reason for their vacancy. Every withdrawal is detailed to the minutest detail. It is just as if it happened yesterday.

Every time we make a withdrawal from the negative side of our Memory Bank, it draws our attention away from our spiritual objective. Jesus said that if we look back we are not fit for the Kingdom of God. (Luke 9:62) Paul stressed forgetting about the past and reaching out for what was ahead. (Philippians 3:13) One of Satan’s objectives is to get Believers to relive old hurts. When we become more concerned about the wounds we received from others than the wounds that Jesus suffered for us, our spiritual stamina will weaken. When the temptation comes to withdraw from the negative side of our Memory Bank, let us see the finish line and anticipate that one day we will be able to say as Paul did, “…I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (II Timothy 4:7)

Running the Christian Marathon is a great experience. We need to stay focused on the road before us and realize we are not running alone. Let us encourage one another and realize that there is also a great cloud of witnesses that have finished the race and are rooting us on. (Hebrews 12:1) HAPPY RUNNING!

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