Running the Christian Life
by Monty Sholund
(This article was written in the fall of 2000.)

These past couple of weeks the eyes of the world have been focused upon the 27th Olympic Games being contested in Sydney, Australia.  From swimming to gymnastics, from the track to the basketball court, and from the equestrian center to the soccer fields, we have watched as athletes from around the world have given their very best in the pursuit of that elusive gold medal.  We have seen the tears of victory as well as those of defeat.  Yet there always remained that sense of accomplishment for all were Olympians. 

As I watched these Olympics, I thought how the Apostle Paul would have enjoyed seeing them.  From what we read of Paul in the pages of the New Testament, he was a great sports fan and kept up his reading of the sports pages of his day making several references to illustrations from the world of sports in his teachings and writings.

One such passage is found in Hebrews 12:1-2.  There we read, 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.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Spectators
Viewing the Olympics on television, one of the first things you notice is the tremendous crowd of people watching each of the events.  Nearly every venue was sold out as visitors clamored for a view of their favorite team or player.  The hometown fans play an important role in determining the outcome of many of our athletic events.  Teams struggle to obtain that home-court advantage because they know the hometown fans help greatly in a winning cause.

We do not run the Christian life alone.  First, Christ is with us.  He promised us in Matthew 28:20, And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.  Because of this promise we know that we face nothing in our Christian experience but that Christ faces it with us.  Second, we are a part of a vast army for God.  We are in an arena surrounded by spectators, those who have successfully completed their races for the Lord.  Can you imagine being watched by the likes of Martin Luther, D. L. Moody, George Whitefield, or David Livingstone?  Their examples in faithfulness are to be an encouragement to us.  They have blazed the way and we now follow in their stead. 

I am reminded of the words of that great contemporary hymn:  May all who come behind us find us faithful; may the fire of our devotion light their way.  May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe, and the lives we live inspire them to obey.  Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.  Oh that our lives might be an inspiration to someone else.

Preparation
As I have watched the Olympics, the commentators have often remarked on the long hours and even years of preparation the various athletes have gone through in order to get to the Olympic Games.  They have truly sacrificed those things that could have been a hindrance to their winning efforts.

Paul reminds us that there are two things that can sidetrack us in our Christian life.  First, we can get entangled in sins.  These are the sins of temptation.  These are the subtle traps that Satan uses to deter us.  Each of us knows of a weakness in our life that can cause us to sin.  For some it is the sin of a bad temper.  For others it is the sin of pride.  For still others, it is the sin of jealousy that Satan uses to entangle.  We are to resist temptation.  James instructs us to submit ourselves to God; resist the devil and he will flee from us (James 4:7).  Because Jesus Christ is with us, we can resist the entanglements of sin.  We do not have to let our weaknesses in the flesh be our conqueror.  We can give our weaknesses to Christ and let Him control them (Romans 6:12-13).

Second, we can carry heavy weights.  Now it is absurd to think of running a race with weights on.  To run successfully you get rid of everything that is not necessary.  In my high school days, I remember the boys who were on the swimming team could be recognized immediately because they had shaved their heads so their hair would not slow them down. 

Sometimes people ask me, “Is such and such a sin?”  We get concerned with those areas not spelled out in the Bible.  The question I responded with was this, “Ask not whether it is a sin, but is it a weight to you?  Is this desire limiting you in your pursuit to be like Jesus Christ?  If it is, then it is a weight that you must lay aside.”  Several years ago, while ministering as a camp speaker in Iowa, I learned a song that soon became the favorite of the campers.  The words went like this:  “I am determined, I’ve made up my mind – I’ll sin no more.”  We need more determination like that today.

Completion
One of the heartwarming stories of this past Olympic was that of a young swimmer from one of the West African countries.  He was competing in the 100 meter freestyle event.  In his particular heat, he ended up being the only swimmer because of the others being disqualified.  Not being a gifted swimmer, he nonetheless jumped into the pool and swam his two lengths.  The cameras showed him struggling as he neared the end of the pool, but there was a huge smile on his face after the swim was completed.  He did not make it into the next round of competition, but he had finished and that was all that was important for him.

In our text, Paul gives us two suggestions that will help us to victory.  First, we are to run with patience.  We are to let God move at His own pace.  Let me borrow an illustration from the running track.  If you are going to run the mile, there is a person who is very necessary.  He is called the pacer.  It is his job to set the tone for the race so the runners don’t burn themselves out in the first part of the race.  So often in our Christian life, we are fast starters.  We are eager to win to Christ everyone with whom we come into contact.  We start fast but finish early.  We often quit because we are tired.  We have not run with patience.  We have not allowed the Lord to be our pacer.  We have not followed Him but have run ahead of Him.  So let us follow our pacer who is Jesus Christ.

Second, we are to keep our eyes upon the goal.  We are not to look at what others have accomplished.  We are not to look at others and compare whether we are more spiritual than they are.  We are simply to look at Jesus.  Failure to keep our eyes upon Jesus will cause us the same embarrassment and possible danger as it did Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus as he walked on the water out to Jesus. 

Conclusion
These are the ground rules for winning:  to remember that we are not alone; to lay aside those sins and weights that will drag us down; to run with patience; and to keep our eyes upon the goal.  If we abide by these ground rules, then we can say, as did the Apostle Paul, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).  We may not compete in the Olympic Games, but we are competing in the “games for life.”  I trust that someday we shall all stand together on the winner’s platform and hear those encouraging words from Jesus, “Welcome, my child. Enter into the joys of your Lord.”  That will be much better than winning the gold medal, don’t you think?

 

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