runningtherace
When I run a long distance race towards the end, I start getting tired and every muscle in my weary legs start to hurt. I start to lose my breath and ponder walking the last few miles or even stopping and giving up completely. But I carry on for the sense of personal achievement it brings and the crappy plastic medal.
Well my relationship with God is not much different from my ‘amateur’ long distance running. Jesus has already done the hard work for me, he’s died on the cross and won the race. All I have to do is run just a little bit further and cross the line.
Why this little bit of running at the end Is so hard, is because it hurts.
Following God hurts. God is love and he hurts, he was hurt when Jesus had to die so he could have a relationship with us.
Following God hurts, because love hurts. To truly love someone, you hurt when their hurting. Following God calls us to love everyone, and although all Christians fail at loving everyone we all have a particular love/passion that God has placed upon our heart. For me personally that love is supporting young people.
If we accept the hurt that God had when his Jesus died on a cross, we must as followers of Christ accept his hurt for the people he laid on our heart. Thus making the Christian journey painful
I have thought about and questioned my faith many times and questioned giving up many times and just taking my faith a little easier, perhaps taking a diversion to have a rest.
But God has reminded me of how far he has carried me on this race and how much I can make a difference in young peoples lives and help carry them in this race.
Well there must be a prize for running the race of life for God?
Good news for me is that is prize is not a crappy plastic medal but eternal life of peace and happiness in Jesus.
“For in him we live, and move, and have our being…” Acts 17:28
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14
