Thursday, June 9, 2011

Running with Endurance

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The notion that an athlete would enter a race and then not "run" is absolutely unthinkable, beloved! Just as unthinkable is the notion that such a runner might run with all his might, but then for some reason stop short of the finish line and not complete the race! As we return to our consideration of the Scripture call to run the race of holiness, let's discover a second key command that we have from God through the writer of the book of Hebrews.

The Greek verb trecho, meaning "run," appears here in the present active tense and could well be translated as "keep on running." As noted already, no race of any kind, literal or figurative, means anything if you never cross the finish line. As an avid golfer, I am all too familiar with the old adage about putts that never reach the cup - "never up, never in!"

In this race of life, beloved, my race is not your race and yours is not that of any other believer. Each of us must run his or her own race of holiness in life and the true joy lies in finishing the race! As the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about his own impending crossing of that finish line:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7)

But this writer not only has urged us to "keep running," beloved. He also urges us to "keep running" with endurance. The Greek word hupomone means literally "a bearing up under" in the sense of something that is not going to be easy. Actually, the believer's race is less like a trip around a smooth and level oval track than it is like a cross-country venture. We face obstacles of all kinds in our race for personal holiness. At times it may be flat and easy, but more times than not it will be hilly and tough. The key for us lies in determining that, come what may, we are going to finish the race!

What is your own personal determination-level set at today, beloved? Are you bent on not only running steadfastly but on finishing the race? Do you face those inevitable obstacles along the way with courage and even daring? Do you get beyond them by the power of your faith in Christ and your commitment to His cause? Let me not only urge you again to run, but to keep running until the end is gained!

Ron