In a little over a week, I will be running in my first competitive race – a 10k (6.2 miles) in the Dexter – Ann Arbor area. I have been running off and on since high school, but never very seriously. Recently some friends convinced me that one way to establish the discipline to maintain a steady running program was to sign up for races, so that I would feel compelled to train for them. This advice has been immensely helpful to me, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to run the upcoming 10k. I have no illusions about my ability to outrun many of the seasoned runners who will run alongside (or more accurately, a long way in front of me), but I have set an optimistic goal for myself, and I fully intend to put forth every effort to reach that goal (specifically, I hope to finish in under 55 minutes). My training program up to this point has been directed toward accomplishing this objective.
It is interesting to me that the Bible, on more than one occasion, speaks of our spiritual goal, that of advancing the Kingdom of Heaven, as being comparable to a race.[1] For example, Paul challenged the Corinthians to “run in such a way that you may win [the race.]”[2] He encourages them to remain unsatisfied with mediocrity in their spiritual journey. We are all encouraged to take seriously this challenge, to seek excellence in all of our endeavors, but most importantly in the task of advancing the kingdom. In one translation of the Bible, Paul is quoted as saying, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”[3] Paul’s experience with God was so profound that there was absolutely nothing that mattered to him more than being a faithful and enduring servant of Jesus Christ.
In thinking about this metaphor, there is one thing that keeps coming to the forefront of my mind – the need to train. I have now been training for about 10 weeks now for the Dexter-Ann Arbor 10k, and every day of training has been important in preparing my body and mind to be effective in meeting my goal. Preparation for our spiritual race is every bit as important. I cannot be effective in advancing the Kingdom and testifying to the gospel if I do not train for it through the disciplines such as Bible study, prayer, discussing Scripture and my spiritual walk with other believers, moral integrity, and serving within my local church community. If I were to run a 10k without having trained, I would not only perform poorly, but I would likely set myself up for injury. In fact, one reason I have chosen to run the 10k this time around is that I know that I am not yet prepared for my ultimate athletic goal of running a marathon; that will have to wait until I have trained much longer and harder. In the same way, the tasks that I take on in my spiritual journey, in serving and in proclaiming the gospel, should reflect my own level of spiritual preparedness.
This should not be seen as an excuse to avoid deeper and more intense levels of Christian service, but rather as a call to humility, self-awareness, and discipline. We are called to serve with the same attitude “that was in Christ Jesus, who . . . emptied himself, taking the form of a slave . . . . and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.”[4] We need to appraise ourselves honestly, confessing our sins and shortcomings and seeking the renewal of the Holy Spirit. I cannot be made effective if I am not willing to look honestly at my own spiritual condition. However, “[i]f we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”[5] Equally important is spiritual discipline. To successfully complete the race, we need to be prepared for it, which will require of us self-control, discipline, sacrifice, and an overwhelming desire to see lives transformed by the love of God and the advancement of His Kingdom. My prayer is that we will run the race, well prepared to win it.
“Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.”[6]
[1] See, e.g., Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:24; Galatians 2:2, 5:7; 2 Timothy 4:7; Hebrews 12:1
[2] 1 Corinthians 9:24 (All Scripture quotations from the New Revised Standard Version unless otherwise noted).
[3] Acts 20:24 (New International Version)
[4] Philippians 2:5-8
[5] 1 John 1:9
[6] 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
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