“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” -Hebrews 12:1
God has a race for us to run. He has a purpose for our lives. To run this race means to acknowledge that God’s purpose for our lives is what matters the most. Our 1st priority should be to discover and complete the purpose God has set before us.
We are each called by God to play a unique role in human history.
We are not eligible to run the race until we choose to enter it. God has already paid the entrance fee for us through His Son on the cross. So the issue isn’t about eligibility, but willingness.
Running this race must be something we continue day after day. It’s not to compete against others it’s about the destination.
The race requires endurance. It starts the moment we choose Jesus and lasts until we die or Jesus returns. This race through life has all kinds of hills and obstacles.
Imagine showing up to a marathon with your running shoes and 2 suitcases. We won’t make it far, just because we think we need all the stuff we’ve packed. But before to long we will have to make a choice to get rid of the excess baggage or get out of the race.
Most of us carry around excess baggage of sin, emotional burdens, and unresolved issues that we carry around and dread and then wonder why it’s difficult to stay in the race. These things easily entangle us and weigh us down with unnecessary baggage. But, when we repent and give it to God, all that extra baggage we carry will be lifted off us.
If we find that it’s difficult to stay in the race, the first thing we should check is what we are carrying.
From Pity to Praise 