Know
Your Race…Set Your Pace
Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let
us run with endurance the race that is set before
us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of
our faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Recently,
I set out on an important mission. Though I have
only one working hand and one working foot I
decided to take a walk. I had crutches to help me
along my way along with sheer determination and
plenty of years of practice.
At
one time I was a power walker and walked no less
than five miles a day. I worked constantly at
improving my form and time as well as building up
my strength. The longer I walked the more natural
it came for me to anticipate the uphill climbs, or
the descending slopes. I could almost do the walk
with my eyes closed. The reason why is because I
became very familiar with my "track."
Professional
and non-professional runners do something very
important before their race begins. They go
to the track and run a few laps to get the feel of
things. They want to know what they are getting
into and they want to make adjustments so that
they can do their very best running and try for
the prize. They know their race long before they
ever officially run it.
The
knowledge they gain from getting a feel for the
track they will run on causes them to make a plan.
They must determine what speeds they will run the
different parts of the track. This is something
known as pacing. Every runner who hopes to finish
the race must set a reasonable pace or they will
fail to make their goal. They will wear out long
before they ever make it to the finish line
because they will use all their energy up early in
the competition.
When
I first started walking sometimes I had to stop
and rest, which wasted valuable time. Soon I
learned where I could coast and where I had to
really dig in. Approaching this walk, I knew that
it was time to set a new pace. My old pace was too
fast for my current race. I am happy to say that I
walked further than I planned and was able to
finish the course. That was only possible because
I knew my race and set my pace accordingly.
Hebrews
12 portrays the life of a Christian as a race.
Salvation is the beginning and redemption is the
end. The writer points out several things that are
necessary to run a good race. One of those things
is "running with endurance the race set
before you" which can be likened to pacing
yourself for your race. Too often we find
ourselves trying to run in the wrong place. We are
not familiar with the terrain, which consists of
hills and valleys, and possibly even mountains. We
start off strong but fall flat on our face all
because we are trying to run someone else’s
race.
Or,
we know our race having studied out the track
thoroughly but we insist on keeping up with the
pack until we are so worn out that we drop from
exhaustion. Some new Christians do this and sad to
say they never get up.
Winning
is very important, but having the attitude of a
winner is the key. We already know that not
everyone can come in first place but if we give
our best effort than we are a winner either way.
The
key to winning is finishing the race. Finishing
the race will involve setting the proper pace.
Pace is an individual thing and something that
each of us must establish in our lives. At times
we will need to make adjustments depending on the
circumstances of life. We do not have to run at
the same speed as everyone else. With the help of
God’s Word and His Spirit we can find the
perfect pace for our lives. When we do that we are
sure to finish the race without suffering injury
along the way.
At
what pace are you living life? Are you on the
right track? Will you finish the course running
with a spirit of excellence all the way? You can
do it if you "know your race and set your
pace."
Today
as we approach life we have an audience looking
down upon us. They set their pace, finished their
race and have gone on to a far better place. They
are champions of the Cross and a source of great
inspiration. May each of us run the race of life
as a champion looking to our coach Jesus until we
cross the finish line!
Prayer:
Father
we thank You for the examples of those who have
gone on before us. Your Word is full of people who
knew their race, set their pace and finished as
winners. Even now they are looking down upon us
along with many others who have since left this
world.
We want to be
winners in this life. We want to be champions for
Jesus. Thank You for allowing Your Spirit to train
us. With Your help let us also set our pace and
run our race too. We will look to Jesus Who is the
Author and Finisher of our faith. He is our Coach
and our inspiration. Help us to be an inspiration
to others along the way. Let us pick up those who
have stumbled or in some other way gone astray!
In
Jesus Name!
Amen!
