Run Fast, Live Fearless.

I’d never paid much attention to the slogan on my T-shirt before, but as I was going out the door for a run last week, this caught my attention. Okay, it’s just an athletic slogan on a T-shirt and not too profound. But it caught my attention because at the time I was meditating on John 20, and thinking or verse 4 where Peter and John run to the empty tomb of Jesus, “The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.” There’s not a deep hidden meaning here, but as a guy, I know there’s a spirit of competition whenever two men run to a goal—you want to get there first. John won. Peter lost.

Despite the lack of deeper meaning, it’s not a jump to think of the spiritual truth that the Christian life is often compared to a race. We can apply that back to Peter’s and John’s lives. Peter stumbled in his race, denying Christ because he feared man and not God. In John’s race, he was first to the tomb, but he was also the only male disciple who was fearless enough to be there at Christ’s Crucifixion. Hat’s off to the women who ran well!

It’s also a bit of a cliche that “Life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon.” Nevertheless, it is true. The Christian life is an endurance race. When this stay-at-home order first went into effect, I knew there would be stages for each of us. At first, it was a bit nice to slow down, stay home, or work from home. But in time, it’s gotten a little old, hasn’t it? Yes. There is boredom, frustration, anger, fear, and ______________ (you fill in the blank). There may be relief in sight, but we’re going to have to endure this for some time longer. This is the race set before us.

We are all in the race.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Therefore:

1. Realize that many, like Peter and John, are witnesses who have gone before you. You are one in a long line of runners for the prize.
2. Lay aside the sin that holds you back. This is not a time to lose discipline and imbibe in sin, it is a time to slough off carnality and become holy.
3. Run your own race. Each of us has a unique race “that is set before us.” This is not a competition with other believers.
4. Run with endurance. It is not easy to endure what we are all going through right now. But we should not be surprised at trials; rather endure them for God’s glory and our own sanctification.
5. Look to Jesus. Fix your eyes on Him. This is no momentary glance, but a settled view of life. He is both example and goal.
6. There is joy ahead. It will not always be this way. God’s promises of hope-fulfilled and heaven-gained are a source of great joy this very day.
7. Do not grow weary and lose heart. Because of all Christ endured for us, we have no reason to be fearful or give up.

We are in an endurance race of a lifetime, but that doesn’t mean we are to run slow. Our Christian life may not be a sprint, but even a marathoner wants to run as fast and as well as he can. And so should we. So, a bit of a slogan, yes, but still some truth in Run fast, live fearless.

Pastor Ben