Thought For The Day

The Race

Editor’s Note: This Post is written by a  Guest, Bob Wade, for Lloveletters. It is though provoking and well worth the read.

I have a question……Do you like to race?  Do you like to watch a race?  There are many kinds of races you know…..foot race, marathon, sprint, dash, and so on, you get the idea.  I have a dear friend who loves to race and he spends a lot of time staying in shape. One day I asked him, “why do you enter so many races?” His answer was short and succinct, ”I like to win.” Good answer. Oh, did I mention that he is “old,” (just kidding); he is my Pastor.

 You may or may not like races, but either way, you are in one. It’s a race you cannot see, you do not know the course of the race, or the obstacles you will have to face and overcome. Sounds kind of strange, and another thing, you do not even know the length of the race. Why in the world would you choose to enter this kind of race, especially since you have a choice?  One thing you do know, the prize is far more than you can ever imagine. The race you are in is not the kind you expect, for it is a Spiritual race of life.  Huh? What does that mean?

  I’ll use a horse race as an example (https://youtu.be/neWsMPzLY6w).  Watch number 4, the rider is wearing blue and white – he’s at the back of the pack.

 After you watch this race, which is phenomenal, I hope that you see the Spiritual similarity that I do. We are not in a race against other horses, but we are running “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Some­­ start more slowly than others in their initial walk, but the time is not wasted, He uses it all.

 Representing our salvation, being born again, is when the starting gates are opened. At this time our position in Christ is permanently established. The race has begun and we are on our way to heaven. During this initial stage of our walk with Jesus, doubts may arise, doubts that can hinder our walk thus slowing us down, moments of unbelief causing us to question; ‘are we really saved?’ We may even stumble (sin) increasing our doubts. But our horse, i.e. “hope, belief, and faith,” keeps us moving forward in this race. When we began we believed that we would run this race and win, but just believing is not enough, we must keep on believing and trusting our Lord. It may even seem that in this first part of the race, we started a little late, but God can and will help us make up any lost time. While we are discovering who we are and enjoying our walk with Jesus we may realize that we are not growing, but have become complacent and are content with the fact that we are going to heaven, but are we aware that there is more about God that we do not understand? This is the moment we begin our search with a hungry heart, desiring to draw close to Him and understand what being a Christian is all about. This hunger will begin to reveal the course ahead, and suddenly we realize that there are many temptations and difficulties to be dealt with. (In the video example these are represented by the other horses.) They are all around us, but we are no longer a part of that life. We are now set aside and our focus has shifted to God and His word but as we begin to pass the other “horses,” trials and temptations can cause doubt, even after all He has brought us through. With all the turmoil around us, can we believe God will see us through to the end of the race?

 I faced this dilemma once. God brought me through some very tough circumstances, but what lay ahead appeared to me insurmountable.  Then one day in prayer, I was telling God that I was giving up, I was finished and He said to me “why are you doubting Me now?” In our horse race example can you hear the jockey whisper in the horses ear “no doubts, let’s go, we’ve got this!”

  It is now that we must cling to Jesus and what He promised  (………I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you. Heb 13:5).

 The race is not over, but if we lift up our eyes we can begin to see the finish and we know that Jesus is waiting with open arms and we can hear Him say “come on, come on, you can do this.  Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 We’re in this race together.

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