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Running
the Race
John
Beck used to be a football star for the University of
Kentucky. Later, he was named as Chaplain of the U.S.
Olympic Teams. For a number of years he traveled with
the Olympic Teams all over the world, leading in their
devotions, counseling and praying with many of the
athletes. As he watched these young men and women
train for the events in which they competed, he
decided that this was a picture of what life really
ought to be. Here were people who were sincere,
fervent and dedicated to the task before them. They
were willing to pay any price, regardless of how much
suffering or pain they had to endure. They were
willing to pay any price to be #1, to win.
Then
one day John Beck was invited to visit the Special
Olympics. Special Olympics, as you know, are made up
of special athletes. All of them suffer from some kind
of mental or physical impairment.
He
watched them as 8 runners lined up for the 100-yard
dash. They all took off when the starting gun fired,
and he was amazed at how good they actually were. But
as they reached halfway in the race, one of the boys
fell down, skinned his knee on the track, and started
to cry.
He
said that what happened next was both beautiful and
amazing. All 7 of the other runners stopped, and all 7
of them turned around and went to the boy who had
fallen. Together they helped him to his feet. And the
8 walked to the finish line together. Beck said that
he then realized that he had seen the true meaning of
life (and of Christianity!), not in the Olympics, but
in the Special Olympics. *
The
Word of God compares the Christian life to running a
race... “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, who for
the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2; cf.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
In
order to “win,”
we must be “in
the race.”
Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith,”
has paved the way to victory.
To share in His victory, we must submit our
lives in obedience to Him through faith
(Acts
16:30-31), repentance
(Acts 17:30-31), confession
(Romans 10:9-10), baptism
(immersion) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38),
and faithful obedience to the end (1 John 1:7).
In
order to “win,”
Christ calls us also to be concerned about others
who may not have yet joined in the race or who are
struggling along the way.
As Paul stated, we must “bear one another's
burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal
6:2).
In
the Christian race, it’s not about being #1, it’s
about finishing the race faithfully AND
helping others do the same.
Won’t
YOU get “in the race”
and help others along the way?
--
David
A. Sargent, Minister
Church
of Christ at Creekwood
1901
Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* Adapted from Tom
Moore, “From the Preacher’s PC,” Avenue T Church of Christ, 2009
West Avenue T, Temple, Texas. http://avenuetchurchofchrist.com
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