“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
On March 6, 1987, Eamon Coghlan, the Irish world record holder at 1500 meters, was running in a qualifying heat at the World Indoor Track Championships in Indianapolis. With two and a half laps left, he was tripped. He fell, but he got up and with great effort managed to catch the leaders. With only 20 yards left in the race, he was in third place -- good enough to qualify for the finals. He looked over his shoulder to the inside, and, seeing no one, he let up. But another runner, charging hard on the outside, passed Coughlan a yard before the finish, thus eliminating him from the finals. Coughlan's great comeback effort was rendered worthless by taking his eyes off the finish line.
It’s so tempting to let up isn’t it? Pull back a little... take it easy.
It happened to Eamon Coghlan and it happens to people you know. Here’s how the trend usually looks:
Something unfavorable happens in life.
We cry, beg, and pray to God to intervene and help us.
We read our Bible, go to church, serve others, etc.
The situation changes.
God comes through (as He always does)
We say a quick “thanks” to God and move forward with our lives.
We think we don’t need God as much so our bible reading decreases, we go to church every so often, and we stop serving.
Prayer only happens before meals if at all.
Fact is... some people only run with God when they need Him for something. When times are good... they pull up... they let God run along and depend on themselves.
After all, who needs God when we can do it ourselves right?
That is NOT what God had in mind when we were created. Each of us were knit together to run hard in life’s race. Sprint through tragedies while leaning on Christ’s strength when ours falls short. Courageously dash into challenges because we know that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Shrink back from adversity? Slow up when it hurts? Push away when we don’t know what to do?
Not part of the plan.
If you are a Christ-follower, the moment you accepted Him as your Savior, you were given a brand new pair of track shoes. Top of the line. Designed to allow you to run hard your whole life... giving glory to Him along the way. I love the way Isaiah 40:31 puts it... those that trust God will “run and not grow weary” Hebrews 12 says “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...”
Run with endurance.
Run and not grow weary.
Keep running forward... don’t let up... don’t base your relationship with God on the way you feel or the circumstances of your life. You were created to be in perfect step with your Lord... running toward a Heavenly finish line. As we talked about last week, the devil’s in good shape and he’s trying to catch up to you...
Slow down? Nope. We were created to finish the race strong.
Feeling tired? Maybe. Let God carry you
Want to stop? You can’t. You were given one life to make a difference for Christ.
Keep moving forward... stay connected to God in both the good AND the bad times... and never ever quit.
You... yes you... are a winner.
Run hard and cross the finish line of life as the champion you were created to be.
