The Race Of Life

Focus: Hebrews 12:1 - KJV

1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Hebrews 6:13-20

Mankind has developed so many sporting activities and events that can be used to explain what life is generally about. For instance, there are the track and field activities which include the sprint and marathon races. The sprint is like a dash that starts and ends almost abruptly and therefore, the participants put in their entire faculties at once with a view to winning the trophy. Whereas, the participants in the marathon conserve their energies by ensuring that they spread the same out for the duration of the long haul that they will be engaged in running, so that they may not get exhausted or faint on the way. The race of life is akin to a marathon: each participant is in it for a long haul and on every bit of the way, as the race continues, there are witnesses seeing those who cut corners as well as those with sharp practices. These corners and sharp practices are depicted in the weights and burdens we bear due to sin. Such easily makes the race less interesting in that we see others making progress but the burdened are held down somewhat.

Now, having the clear understanding that there is a cloud of witnesses watching, even though while the race is on, their comments and actions do not get to us as we concentrate on the race, but they do see the way in which we run the race and may just race objection in the end if we claim victory that we do not deserve. The greatest of these witnesses is the Lord Himself who sees what we do even in the bottom of the sea or the deepest of caves. Nothing is hidden from His sight. If we must therefore win and win aright, we must shed those things that do not qualify for the race such as anger, unforgiveness, immorality, hatred and the likes. How does a participant in a race have the time to show anger to a bystander and will not fall behind in the race? This race requires full concentration and we ought to give to it all it deserves.

Beloved, the Lord is watching us as we build on the foundation He has laid. It is now a relay and the baton has been handed to us. The one who ran the first leg has done so brilliantly that He has put us ahead as a team. Our contribution to the race will be measured on whether we contribute to the success of or retard the progress of the entire team. To contribute to the success, we are not only to be holy, but also to draw many others into holiness through our ways and preaching. When Christ came, the number of believers was negligible. He handed the baton to the Apostles and there was a great growth and soon enough, the Gospel is being heard all over the world. Now that we have the baton, are believers increasing or there is a larger falling away? The Lord says some will finish and say to Him we did so much for you and He would respond ‘I know you not’. These are those that had cut corners while on the race. The witnesses are watching.

SOLUTION: Let us be deliberate in soul winning by ensuring we do things that glorify God, always and evangelize at every opportunity. The enemy is out to de-market the Kingdom but it is our responsibility to market our brand so proudly and make it the attractive truth that it is.

Please pray: Father, in this race of life, help me to finish well and strong in Jesus’ name. Do not let me fall by the way side; and do not let my effort be in vain, in Jesus’ name.

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