Running the Christian Race

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,”

You've heard it said before – life is a race – a marathon, not a sprint.  It takes endurance.  It takes perseverance.  You also don’t want to run a marathon, or any race for that matter, with a 50 pound sack of potatoes on your back.  You want to shed as much baggage as possible.  Yet, over time,  we accumulate lots of  “stuff”.   This stuff  comes in many forms – physical, emotional, spiritual, and so forth.  Some of the stuff  we actually need, and for those things – maybe “stuff” is too harsh a word.  This stuff may include relationships, such as family and friends,  or a place to live, or clothes to keep us warm.  Much of this stuff serves to enable us to run our race.  Our focus should be on discerning what stuff is hindering us and keeping us from running the race, or slows us down.  Sin,  of course, falls into that category, and while more discernable than most hindrances, is not the only thing that hinders.  Life can get pretty complicated - and before we know it our schedules and closets are filled up with more than we know what to do with.  Discerning what to keep and what to get rid of is not an easy task - but needs to be done if we are to throw off the stuff that entangles us.  

To run with endurance we also need to train. We just can't expect to show up at a marathon starting line one day and expect to run the 26.2 miles.  It takes preparation.  It takes work.  It takes focus.

 Hebrews 12:2a “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith .”

Some say that the difference between a runner and a jogger is a race entry.  You have a different motivation when you have signed up to run in a race, and in most cases paid money for the privilege to do so.   As I write this I am signed up to run the Pittsburgh Marathon.  Besides an $85 entry fee, I have also committed $450 for a 3 night stay at one of the local hotels (non-refundable).  In addition,  I will be joined by my brother and his wife who have also paid non-refundable race and hotel fees.  When I get discouraged and think of backing out I will be reminded of the money that has already been paid and the people that are counting on me to join them.  I've also told several friends and coworkers about my plans and I don’t want to have to tell them that I’ve backed out.  My sights are on the finish line - looking forward to crossing the line and having a finisher's medal placed on me - knowing that all my preparation has paid off.

In my Christian race – my goal is none other than Jesus Christ.  My eyes should be fixed firmly on Him.  All that I do, including running the Pittsburgh Marathon and writing this book, should be done with Him at the center of all my plans and the end of all my goals.  He is the reason I live, and to Him should come  the glory in all that I do.  He gives purpose to my life – to my work, my running, and my writing. 

This blog will parallel my training for the Pittsburgh Marathon to running the race called the Christian life.   To me that means more than just training physically, but spiritually as well.   For as Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:8

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

My hope is not that you will become a marathon runner, though if you do, that’s fine.  My goal is that this blog will help you run the Christian race with perseverance, while keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus. 


In the upcoming weeks this blog will focus on training and running the Christian race as I train for and (hopefully) run the Pittsburgh Marathon.  This is not my first marathon (though I have not run one in 8 years) so I have some experience in training - but also much to learn. 

Are you ready to run?