Running the Race of Life God’s Way

Do you like physically running or jogging? Have you run a half or full marathon? Have you run in a track and field sprint race?

I like to watch the fastest runners in the world race, like in the Olympic games. They are very impressive.

I don’t like to run personally because I have problems with my feet but there are a couple instances of a running/race metaphor the Apostle Paul uses in the NT of God’s Word that are meaningful to me and I hope to you. In a few Bible passages, the English words “run” and “race” are metaphors about how we engage in the course of life set before us. I am going to walk through three of these Bible passages and I’ll point out three key stages in running this race of life God’s way.

The first stage to running the race of life God’s Way is

1) Start Well

As you have probably noticed in a sprint race, the start is very important to how well you run the rest of the race. The best sprinters in the world know that starting well is essential. And when you start well you should not only have the end in mind, the finish line in mind, you should desire to run well along the way. Of course, a Marathon may be a better metaphor for living a long challenging life but we can still learn some life principles from a sprint race.

Check out this first passage, I want to highlight, about a running race.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV) ²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
²⁷ But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Paul first began writing about a physical running competition race where one person wins the race and receives a perishable reward. He exhorted the readers to run for the prize. He pointed out the importance of self-control in all things and self-control surely contributes greatly to victory. How are you doing at self-control in your life?

Then, Paul mentioned an imperishable reward. What does imperishable mean? Something that doesn’t perish; something that is eternal.

Paul is really writing here about an eternally significant race of life. And I wonder, have you started this eternally significant race of life yet?

Paul then wrote that he doesn’t run aimlessly and he keeps his body under control so that he doesn’t disqualify himself related to preaching the Gospel.

There are different courses of life; some are God-honoring and some are not. There is a course of life for those who trust Christ as their Savior that includes eternal life with God in His heaven. This is the race of life that every true Christ-follower has before them and they are to run this race God’s way and there are divine rewards to be enjoyed. In this particular race, every Christian exists for Christ, is to glorify God in everything, and be conformed to the image of Christ. In this particular race, there is also a divine vocational/ministry calling. This is the part of the race that maturing Christ-followers discern over time and are to also run God’s way and there are divine rewards to be enjoyed.

If you are a saved Christ-follower, do you know yet what God’s vocational/ministry calling is in your life? For me, it includes pastoral ministry; pointing people to Christ, His Word, and His church to be the people of God He wants us to be. If you don’t yet know this calling in your life, pray for God to bring that to light in His timing and seek out some wise counsel.

There is also a race of life that is aimless. Either the Christ-follower is aimless in that he or she doesn’t intentional live for the Lord or there is aimlessness (no eternal significance) because the person doesn’t yet know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

I believe that in order to run the race of life God’s Way, you and I must start well, and I believe this can’t happen until you and I give our life over to Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. When I was 9yrs old I received Christ into my life as my Savior because God spiritually called me to be saved by Jesus and I knew and still know that I need Him as my Savior and Lord.

What about you and Jesus? Who is Jesus Christ to you? We all have a sin problem and we need Jesus Christ to save us from this sin problem. The great news is that our Holy Creator God loves you and I so much that He sent His one and only eternal Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for all of our sins and He rose in victory over sin and death and offers us eternal life by His grace through faith in Him.

If any of you are not genuinely trusting Jesus as your Savior, then check this out about God’s plan for true life, eternal life. I don’t believe there is anything more important than personally knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and this is how you start well when it comes to running the race of life God’s way.

The second stage to running the race of life God’s Way is

2) Run Well

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The witnesses here are likely redeemed people who have already run their races of life the Lord set before them. We can learn from those mentioned in Hebrews 11 and other believers who have run the race of life before us. Now, it’s our turn, so let’s remove what hinders us from running a God-honoring race of life. Can you imagine a world-class sprinter trying to run a race with a ball and chain attached to his or her ankle?

We must identify sin footholds in our life and give those over to Jesus to deliver us from sin bondage. Maybe its legalism or pride or lust or selfishness. Ask God to show you what sin is entangling you in this race.

Paul exhorts us here to run with endurance this race of life set before us and keep our eyes on Jesus along the way.

The Greek word here translated as “race” is the word “agon” which is where we get the English word agony. This Christian race of life is not simple, smooth, and easy. Christ says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” This Christian life can be grueling; there is persecution, suffering, difficult storms, spiritual warfare, etc…We need to endure.

This word endurance refers to steadfastness and faithfulness. For example, are we engaging in consistent holy living, building our lives consistently upon the holy foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word for us?

And are we keeping our eyes of faith focused on Jesus Christ? Peter got out of the boat and walked on water briefly out to Jesus until Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at his circumstances, the waves around him, and that’s when Peter was afraid and began to sink. Jesus is the author of our salvation and the object of our living faith day by day. Let’s revolve our lives around and in Christ!

J. Vernon McGee wrote the following about Christians not running the race of life well (Thru the Bible Commentary; Hebrews 12:2), “They are like the little girl who fell out of bed one night. When the little girl began to cry, her mother rushed in and said, “Honey, how come you fell out of bed?” The little girl replied, “I think I stayed too close to the place where I got in.” That is the problem of the Christian today. We stumble and falter and fail because we are staying too close to the place where we got in. We need to go on—this is a race, you see.”

You and I must continually determine in our hearts to run this race of life God’s way; that is to run well!

Okay, the third stage to running the race of life God’s Way is 

3) Finish Well

Has there been something in your life so far that you believe you finished well? Maybe a challenging competition, goal, or project? An example in my life is my seminary experience at LU. God helped me learn a lot and I grew in Christ. I was involved in some eternally significant ministry through TRBC. I made some good ministry networking connections. I got married to a godly Liberty girl. God blessed me with a pastor job when I graduated. I look back at that time of my life and believe, by God’s grace, I finished that seminary experience well.

Paul wrote about finishing well. 2 Timothy 4:5-8 (ESV) ⁵ As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. ⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Paul wrote to his young apprentice in ministry, Timothy, to fulfill the ministry God has called him to. God helps to equip and lead you in such a calling but you are responsible for being faithful to God and His calling in your life.

Paul knew he was nearing the end of his physical life so he reflected upon his race of life in Christ and he also looked forward into eternity. Paul stated that he fought the good fight, finished the race, and has kept the faith. Amen! Praise God. Paul believed he completed the race of life set before him; that he accomplished what God directed him and empowered him to accomplish. He was like a soldier, an athlete, a guardian and herald of God’s Word.

Paul also looked ahead to eternity which includes divine blessings in eternity like the crown of righteousness mentioned here.  I believe Heaven will be amazingly wonderful for all the redeemed saved people and in addition there will be some other divine blessings to enjoy for some believers who did well according to God’s will here.

We don’t work for salvation but I think we can put forth certain efforts in Christ toward rewards in heaven.

In 2 Cor. 5:10 we read about the judgment seat of Christ moment when the redeemed will receive rewards for their works that had eternally significant value.

We have one life in this physical body, so, let’s make it count for God’s purposes, His will, and His glory! Let’s redeem the time and honor the Lord with our lives and then by God’s grace and our God-honoring living perhaps when we draw near to death we will be able to say the same thing Paul wrote here; reflecting backward that we lived for God’s glory and looking forward to divine blessings in eternity. May we too be Christ-followers like Paul, who finished well.

So, when it comes to running the race of life God’s way I believe it is biblically important to start well, run well, and finish well.

What about you and this race of life set before you?

Have you started this race well, God’s way? Are you saved by Jesus Christ yet?

Are you running this race well, God’s way? Are you enduring in Christ, keeping your eyes of daily faith and obedience focused on Jesus?

Are you planning to finish this race well, God’s way? By fighting the spiritual fight for the cause of Christ and keeping the doctrines of the Christian faith according to God’s Word?

What do you and I need to change or adjust in our life to be more consistent at running this race of life God’s way?

What are your next steps to being all that God calls you to be and do what God calls you to do? And how can we help others in this same way?

God bless you in running the race of life God’s way!

Mike