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Run the Race
²⁴ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. ²⁵ And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. ²⁶ I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: ²⁷ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. -1 Corinthians 9:24-27

In this text Paul says that, “In a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize.” Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen, and that many seek to be welcomed into heaven, but only those who come through the “Narrow door” which is Jesus, may enter.”

Everyone who competes in a race train. They train with relentless preparation, focus, and determination. They do it to get a crown, but that crown won’t last; it’s temporary. But we run the good race and fight the good fight to finish well the race of Christian living to receive the Crown of Eternal Life! A Christian life is not a sprint; rather, it’s a marathon. There are times when we become discouraged and tired. At such times God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

I’m going to share my personal testimonies of the various physical races I have run, and I will compare my race experiences to life experiences.

Sixth Grade Track Team Tryouts

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: -2 Timothy 4:7
Came in last place. Coach said, “Maybe you should try out for baseball.”I vowed to never come in last place again.I trained incorrectly for the tryout. I needed to make changes to how I practiced. Preparation is also needed in living a Christian life.When you read your Bible, that is practice getting you prepared. *Study to show yourself approved. When you attend church, that is practice getting you prepared.*Let us not forsake the assembly of the saints. Iron sharpens Iron.When you pray, that is practice getting you prepared. *Daniel didn’t wait until he was in the lion’s den to pray. It was a daily thing. Bible, church and prayer should be a constant.

Marine Corps Boot Camp Final PFT

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? -Galatians 5:7
I ran the final physical fitness test at a pace with the other squad leaders, but it was too comfortable. They just wanted to finish, and I wanted better, so I left the pack and ran like I wanted to win.Sometimes you can’t run with the crowd. Step out and step up. I had to decide not to go alone with everyone else. Then I ran like I really wanted the prize.I had to make up for lost time, but I was determined.I came in first out of the entire battalion.

Marine Corps Marathon

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. -Ecclesiastes 9:11

I never thought of taking on a run of 26.2 miles.I wasn’t sure if I was prepared for such a challenge. Sometimes life have us facing the unknown.Gun shot. No movement. Going nowhere. But still in the race.Harder than imagined.Hit the wall, as runners would say on a long run. Wanted to quit, but I prayed instead. Then I started praising and motivating myself. If praise can bring down the walls of Jericho, it can bring down this imaginary wall. I kept pressing; I kept running; I kept believing.

Okinawa, Japan 24 Hour Relay Race

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: -Romans 5:3-4

I signed up for an 8-man 24-hour relay race in Okinawa, Japan. Talk about stretching your limits. Very little time for eating, sleeping and restroom breaks.Each person ran a mile then passed the baton to the next runner. We did this over and over, while competing with other teams.Being a team effort, some things were not in my control.I wasn’t in this race alone. I had to depend on my teammates.The race started off easy enough, but then it got harder and harder.I gave it my all each mile I had to run. Then the night came along with a heavy rain. Storms will come. We ran in the mud.Over the duration, a couple of team members dropped out. They couldn’t go on, so we that remained took up the slack, which meant running more often.No whining or complaining, just running. Do what you gotta do.

Okinawa 38 Miles

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. ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith… -Hebrews 12:1

This was the hardest run of my life. We met at the starting point at zero dark thirty. That’s 5:30am civilian time. It was very cold, and it was very dark. Fifteen of us gathered for this adventure along with a medic riding in an ambulance. When the signal was given, we began at a slow pace not wanting to push ourselves too soon.We had to battle the terrain, the weather, the pain and our individual will.The agony of the tasks was in everyone’s mind. We all were in top physical condition, and we separately trained for this moment, but was it enough? Were we truly ready?With patience, experience and hope, I pressed on.Out of the 15 who started out, only two of us completed the race. Not only did I finish; I finished first.

What race has been set before you? Life is full of challenges.When you are hurting in your body, mind or spirit, run the race.When obstacles are in your way, run the race.When you are tired and weary, run the race.When you feel like you are in this alone, run the race.When it seems like you can’t go on, run the race.Don’t you stop. Don’t you quit. Don’t you give up.Keep going. Keep pushing. Keep pressing. Keep on keeping on.Run the race. Run the race. Run the race