3 Necessary Principles for Running (and winning) a Race

There you are.

You see the blanks-loaded gun cocked and ready to fire. You eagerly wait for that POP to set you on your way.

You take off sprinting, adrenaline pumping, heart pounding with excitement and intrigue. You keep running, but your more tired, the finish line seems to be getting farther away rather than closer.

You feel as though something is holding you back.

What is it?

You look down and realize the whole race you have unintentionally been strapping weights to yourself. You also notice that the gun had never gone off and you had taken off too early. The race hadn't even begun. Because of these factors, the finish line no longer looks as greatly appealing as it did in the beginning.

And thus we have a disqualified runner.

Visit 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 with me.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep in under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Let's check out some principles for race-running.


1. Wait.

Seems a bit interesting to start with this principle but I believe that it is critical for Christian's to learn to wait on God and his drawing.

Here's Isaiah 40:31

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

That's truth. So why don't we experience that as Christians? Could it be because we aren't waiting for the Lord to speak? Could it be that we have our own agenda for where we see our life going and we haven't taken a moment to sit with God and see what he has to speak to us?

I believe the reason that we don't experience such endurance in our life as Christians is because we are never waiting upon God. We are never waiting for the divine POP. We rather began running without direction and without guidance and end up more lost than we were in the first play.

Do you feel tired, out of energy, at the end of your rope?

It's time to wait upon the Lord and be renewed.


2. Get rid of excess weight.

What a hilarious sight it would be to see a race where the runners run carrying as much weight as each one can bare. Think that's hilarious? Well imagine that the rules don't even say the runners have to carry excess weight!

I can't help but imagine that the audience would be harassing the poor fellow to get rid of his weights. And let's be honest, they are right. It is ridiculous to be carrying extra weight while everyone else races on ahead of you. There are a few reasons someone may do this.
                        
                          1. You don't actually take the race seriously

                          2. You look at it as mere training, not the real thing

I believe that many Christians are running with excess weight; our sin. Folks, the rules say we don't have to be using these excess weights. Now does a person with excess weight get anywhere in a race? Of course they do! But not as far, not as fast, and not as long.

2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness"

Get rid of it.


3. Look to the Prize

Perhaps most important is this principle. Don't take your eyes off the prize. Runners run only for the prize. And I believe that when we enter into that heavenly kingdom where the runners are crowned for their striving, there will be cheering and joy from our glorious savior and the angles.

Don't lose sight of how glorious the prize of eternal intimate relationship with Jesus is. To lose sight of this is to be disqualified altogether. Keep running, but be sure your running the right direction; towards the correct prize.


This race is long, but pass the finish line is immensely longer, and that time depends on what you are doing right now. So apply these principles when needed in order to finish the race and hear the words

"Well done, my good and faithful servant."