The Spiritual Race is a Long Run, Not a Sprint

Since being a Christian, and especially a pastor, there have been numerous people witnessed as having given up on their race due to hard times, boredom, a lack of faith, desiring the enticements that pull one away from the faith, and other items that hinder a relationship with God.  The design of each person's spiritual race is a long run of endurance, patience, faith, and victory.  Yet, many Christians give up when the race requires more than a sprint to a certain point in life (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 2:1-3; 1 Peter 4:12).  Expecting immediate results, mountains to move instantly, and everything to be as quick in prayer as it is ordering a package in today's time is not reality when it comes to spiritual things.  God may move suddenly, but not in every circumstance.  The Word of God tells Christians to endure to receive salvation (Romans 5:3-4; James 1:12-18; Hebrews 10:36; Colossians 1:11; Matthew 24:13). 

Endurance is the display of practice, grit, determination, devotion, and faith.  Christians should not endure because they are told to, but endure to be found faithful in love and service to God through Jesus Christ (James 1:4; Romans 15:4; James 5:11; Hebrews 12:1-2; Revelation 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:5).  When a Christian can understand that endurance is a required element of running their spiritual race, they can know to be focused on the bigger picture of their salvation and not the present only (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 4:18).  A focus on the present can blind so many through selfishness and enticement (1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 2 Timothy 4:10).  A runner does not give his all at the beginning of a long-distance race, but paces himself to know there is a lot of road to cover and energy will be needed.  This is not to say that Christians take their time to grow or put off what they need to do today until tomorrow.  The long-distance runner understands that the little things now can hinder them from reaching the distance later.  The little sins now that one allows in their heart, in their mind, or in their home will cause bigger issues down the road.  The lack of studying the Word of God now will hinder being a stronger soldier later.  The lack of prayer now will hinder the harvest of prayers in due season.  The dismissal of church attendance now will hinder the fortitude to go later.  The Christian faith one practices now should get stronger as they run their race with Jesus Christ. 

Knowing the race is not a quick, easy sprint allows the proper mindset to run one's race no matter the timeline of the return of Jesus or the number of one's days remaining on the earth (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 4:8; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Corinthians 10:5; Romans 8:5-6).  Although one's race is a long-distance run, there should be checkpoints that each person hits along the way.  These checkpoints allow God to encourage, motivate, adjust, and refresh each runner while on track.  It is when a person gets off track that they miss these checkpoints designed to have the supplies one needs to finish the race.  This leans into being selfish and not submitting to the track outlined by God's plans and vision for each person (Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10; Psalm 33:11; 2 Timothy 1:9; Jeremiah 1:5). 

The fellowship of God's people also encourages one another to continue running their race.  The spiritual enemy's design of dividing God's people is purposeful to hinder the motivating, encouraging, or obtaining the supplies one needs to reach the finish line.  Giving in to miss church could hold the sermon one needed to be strengthened from the previous week or prepare for the week ahead.  Not studying the Word of God regularly could prevent the right revelation from His Word at the right time, assisting in the knowledge or wisdom needed for that day or the next day.  Not praying routinely could allow the prayer of protection, wisdom, or other needed supplication to remain unspoken for one's life.  It is the consistency of doing the right thing with the right heart that helps Christians run their race for the long distance.  May more Christians be prepared for the long race of life, reaching their finish line through endurance rather than giving up and not obtaining their victory through Jesus.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.