Run Well, End Well!

 

“Faith-healing is grand, but faith-enduring is grander.”    Charles Spurgeon 

  In 1983, Australia hosted its ultramarathon, a 573.7 mile foot race from Sydney to Melbourne. It’s a race that takes days to run, and professionals from all over the world came to participate. Shortly before the race began, a 61-year-old sheep herder named Cliff Young, wearing overalls and goulashes over his boots—walked up to the registration table and requested a number to enter the race. The folk at the registration table thought it was a joke—that somebody was setting them up—so they laughed. 

  But Cliff Young said, “No, I’d really like to run.” Well, people still thought it was a joke, but they gave him a number anyway and pinned it on his old overalls.  He walked over to the start of the race. All the other professional runners, who were decked out in all their running regalia, looked at him like he was crazy.  The crowd snickered. People began to laugh. They laughed even more when the gun went off and the race began, because all those professional runners with sculpted bodies and beautiful strides made their way out—and began to run, but not Cliff Young. He didn’t even run like a runner. Cliff Young ran with an awkward, goofy-looking shuffle.  All through the crowd people were laughing, and finally, someone called out, “Get that old fool off the track!”

  Well, five days, 14 hours, and four minutes later, at 1:25 in the morning, Cliff Young shuffled across the finish line of the 573.7-mile ultramarathon. Cliff Young had won the race! And he didn’t win by a nose, with the guy in second right on his heels. He didn’t win by a matter of minutes or even an hour or two. The second-place runner was nine hours and 56 minutes behind. He had set a new world record for the ultramarathon. It was unbelievable. He became an instant hero in Australia. The press mobbed him wondering what kind of special running shoes he must have had, and they rummaged through his backpack wondering what he’d survived on. They discovered he’d lived primarily on pumpkin seeds and water. But that wasn’t the secret of his victory.  You see nobody ever told Cliff Young that when you run in the ultramarathon, you run for 18 hours straight, and then you stop and sleep for three or four hours. So Cliff Young shuffled his way to victory without ever sleeping. He endured running five days, 14 hours, and four minutes non-stop at the age of 61.

  That’s how Christians run. We’re empowered by Jesus Who lives in us we run with endurance always keeping our eye on the goal. We never stop pursuing that goal. We persevere. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”

  If you’re not facing struggles, you will. In this sin-contaminated world, all of us face some tough problems. Some of you are struggling financially because you need a job. Others are struggling because there is great pressure at their job. Some are struggling in their marriage or with their children. Others are grieving. Some struggle with emotional issues. For these and many other reasons you may feel like your strength is flagging—you feel like giving up. DON’T. Remember—Jesus didn’t quit. Keep His example always in mind. Ask for His help—but keep running—keep enduring—keep pursuing the goal of becoming more like Jesus.

  Are you a quitter? A quitter gives up when things are hard or uncomfortable. A quitter gets discouraged thinking a job will never be finished. Instead of quitting, God wants you to persevere. But persevering means to keep going through a hard time without giving up.

  The Bible tells of so many like Noah or Moses or Ruth and Esther…and countless others who faced fear and discouragement, but they persevered. There will be hard times in your life when you'll be tempted to quit. You might feel sorry for yourself and think it's just too hard to be a Christian, but God can give you perseverance. God has wonderful plans for you. He just wants you to trust Him as He works them out in your life. Don't get discouraged. Don't be a quitter. Keep on keeping on! God says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest [be rewarded] if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). 

  The Christian life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. How many of you have ever run a marathon or a half-marathon? You know the importance of pacing yourself so you can finish the race. The history of the marathon comes from the legend of how a Greek soldier, Pheidippides ran about 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians. After making that long run, he was so exhausted he fell over dead.

  The key to finishing well is having the right focus. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

  That term “fix our eyes on Jesus” means that we stare intently at Him. A good runner always keeps his or her eyes on the finish line. They don’t turn to look at the other runners or they can lose precious time. Another reason I believe those witnesses cheering us on aren’t looking at us is because I believe they are also looking at Jesus. It’s important to understand that we aren’t running for the applause of those in the grandstands. We are running for the approval and the applause of only One, the Lord Jesus Christ. They are cheering us on, but we have eyes only for Jesus. You can’t run this race without His strength. As you run, keep chanting, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

  There’s an old Steve Green song that says: “We’re pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road; And those who’ve gone before us line the way; Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary; Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace. Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses; Let us run the race not only for the prize; But as those who’ve gone before us; Let us leave to those behind us; The heritage of faithfulness; Passed on through godly lives. Oh 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!”

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.