Whether you are watching the best athletes in the world compete in the Olympics, or if you are attending a middle school track meet, you will find one similarity…
People going all out, giving their best effort to win.
Now contrast these sporting events with a fund-raising 5k.
You will see a few athletes competing to win, but you are much more likely to find non-athletes shuffling along in groups, or even walking.
Why would they be there? To support a cause with their friends, and to get the event t-shirt, of course!!
When it comes to your spirituality, how will you be described at the end of your race?
Will you be a well-conditioned, seasoned spiritual athlete?
Or will you just be one among the crowd, participating more for the pot luck dinners than anything else?
Don’t get upset if the latter describes your motivation. My point is not to make accusations or to hurt anyone’s feelings.
My point is that we are expected to run our spiritual race well, going all out.
1Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Run your race to win, so that you might hear these words:
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
That would be much more exciting than hearing, “You made it. Barely, but you made it. What’s your name again?” (Yes, I made this part up – it is not in scripture). But you get the gist of it right?
Engage.
Prepare.
Condition.
Be passionate about your race.
While we are on the subject, it is also important to know the route that your race will follow. Yeshua (Jesus) tells us this:
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
It doesn’t matter if you are shuffling along or racing at a full sprint, if you are in the wrong race.
If you find yourself going down the wide path with the majority, don’t be afraid to recognize that you are off course (based on what Messiah has said!). Don’t take comfort in finding yourself in a massive crowd, shuffling along, all doing the same thing.
Be set apart. Stand out from the crowd.
Get on the narrow path, and run to win.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Luke 12:51-53
Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
