October-December
In the race, the Director led me to understand the need of self-discipline, especially in the area of what I put in my body. What difference does it make about what you eat and drink if this is a spiritual race rather than a physical one? I learned by experience and later through Inspiration and science that what we eat and drink does indeed affect the functioning of the body systems, the electrical impulse of nerve and cell, as well as the perception and function of the brain. Our habits of input directly affect our output of character, of how we think, how we converse, how we perceive, how we are.
If we put things into our physical body that hinder us in any way, we are less capable of having the energy and strength to run the race. We need calm nerves, healthy thoughts, and strong bodies as much as possible.
I noticed an interesting phenomenon. As I learned more about what to do for better health of brain and bone, I became more aware of other things that were hindering my progress in the race. The Bible speaks of those things as the sin that "so easily besets us” (Hebrews 12:1). There are internal attitudes and reactions that need to be changed. There are external influences that are calculated to stop us in this race. I stopped watching things that used up time, energy, and attention that didn’t help me in the race.
I stopped listening to things which were actually detrimental.
I put in the spiritual food of God’s Word, the Bible. I spent time digesting what He was teaching by thinking on the concepts I was reading, by praying for wisdom and direction, and by listening to that still, small voice that He promises to give to guide the honest in heart. I was hungry to hear sermons that would challenge and encourage me in the race, and that would teach me how to run better. I wanted the best and still do. What about you?
I have noticed another interesting lesson in running this race. We may begin the race of the Christian, which by definition, is to be like Christ. Christ is the ultimate example in self-abnegation, that willingness to deny oneself for the good of others. We can read a very brief description of His attitude in the book of Philippians in the Bible.
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (2:6–8).
This description is remarkable when we understand that Christ is actually the Creator of all things, one with the Father in Heaven. He was willing to set that power, that position aside to come to Earth, become one with humanity and live a life that could show us what God wanted for us. He would show us how to run the race. He was willing to show by example how we can grasp hold of divine power outside of ourselves, and do what He asks us to do.
Christ was willing to make Himself of no reputation. He didn’t come as a rich or powerful man. He was willing to take the lowest position to help people in whatever capacity He found them. He competed with no one. This is what He calls us to do-—to be His followers, His representatives in this world.
But our race is in this world, on this planet called Earth. We are surrounded by others running another race, a race which involves competition, a spirit of winning. Power and importance often attend this race and can very easily enter into the Christian race.
I have found that I must constantly be asking why am I running this way. Is it really to honor the Lord who gives me strength to run, or do I want to prove something to myself or others? Am I God-honoring or self-honoring? How can I know? The Bible tells me I can pray for God to search my heart and reveal to me my motives. I can also check myself. It may be like checking for dehydration. Am I looking for praise, trying to show how good I am, how important I am, how intelligent I am? Am I a "know-it-all"? Or am I willing to humbly be and do what Christ is asking? Am I gentle in spirit, encouraging others, striving to help, loving and kind?
I have been tested often on these things. Especially when there are those who try to stop you from winning the race, when there are belligerent runners, when there are jealous onlookers, how will we respond? I have had to plead with God for grace to turn the other cheek, love to share with those who have hurt me or my family either consciously or unconsciously, endurance to continue when all seems to be set against me.
This race changes us if we will continue the running. Will you? Will I?
The race is not over. I don’t know how long it will continue. It seems in the physical races that you must be strong and that youth is often the optimum time to run. Yet, there are those who are older in years that have developed stamina that youth do not have and are even better able to run the long distances of a marathon. So it is in the spiritual race. When we are young, we have energy to burn. We think that we can do anything, anywhere. Then life’s experiences start to wear us down. There may be discouraging circumstances, sickness, death, sorrow, poverty, hatred against you, and the like. We can quickly realize that, without extra strength from above, we cannot finish the race. I want to praise the Lord for the promise that “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Notice the words just before this verse:
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall” (verses 28–30).
God is so good. He does not get tired, and He has the power to help and strengthen the faint and weary, the weak, the discouraged. He promises to be with us to run the race.
He declares, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).
I may need to run for many more years, or my race could be cut short today. Either way I have the promise of God’s strength to run. I am reminded of the apostle Paul, the great preacher of the New Testament in the Bible. Formerly a persecutor of the Christians, he became one of their greatest. He had a dramatic experience on his way to round up a group of his enemies. He learned humility, love, service, and perseverance. He was severely persecuted for his faith and his work, and yet he pressed on, seeking to do his best no matter where he was and whatever his circumstances. He was a great example of faithfulness, yet instead of saying “look what I have done,” he wrote: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–14).
As mentioned before, this race requires perseverance and endurance. Jesus says, “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).
Let us be willing to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:1–4).
Then one day like Paul, we can say:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7, 8).
Am I a "know-it-all"? Or am I willing to humbly be and do what Christ is asking?