Several times in his writings to the churches, the apostle Paul compared the life of faith to a race. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Philippians 3:13-14, and 2 Timothy 4:7-8 are several of them.

Another is Hebrews 12:1-3 where we are told to, “Strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” NLT

God wants us to run the faith race unencumbered by the weight of sin, distractions, worries, and misplaced affections. Paul urges us to take decisive action regarding these things, to shake them off so we can run with endurance a race, the life purpose, that God himself set before us. That power to endure is gained by focusing on and submitting to Christ who drew us to himself by his Spirit and who will make us perfect.

Jesus initiated the faith race by coming to earth to live among us, teach us, heal us, and usher in his kingdom. He crossed the finish line on our behalf on the cross and at the empty tomb. He won a glorious victory over sin, death, and hell so we could be seated with him eternally in the place of honor at the Father’s right hand. Ephesians 2:6

As followers of Jesus, we too run for his name and for the kingdom’s sake, even if it involves suffering. (1 Peter 2:20-21) We can trust him to help us endure and to take us safely over our own finished line. And when he, the righteous Judge returns, we will share in his glory and receive a crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:7-8