Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
–Hebrews 12:1-2
If you take a drive on any given morning, especially in many metropolitan areas, you’ll probably see at least a few people jogging along the roads or sidewalks. And when you see them, maybe you feel like that fellow who said, “Every time I get the urge to jog, I just go lay down and the urge goes away!”
But whenever you do see people jogging, it should remind you of the Christian life. If I go out to run a few miles, I’m going to be steady and constant without a whole lot of sprinting, jumping, or any other kind of erratic movements.
In the same way, the Christian life is not to be lived in spurts and jumps and stops and starts, but it is to be lived like a racer running to the finish line – steady and constant. The Christian life demands discipline to keep your head level and your eyes forward as you look toward the great finish line of being with Jesus forever.
But the world and the enemy want to take your eyes off the great prize that awaits you. They want you to follow this impulse or that temporary happiness, hoping that you’ll completely forget about the race you’re running.
So when it comes to running the race set before you, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, your Savior. When you do that, the distractions of the world will seem strangely dim compared to his wonderful light!
RUN THE RACE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BY KEEPING YOUR EYES FOCUSED ON CHRIST AND THE WORLD’S DISTRACTIONS WILL SEEM INSIGNIFICANT.
