What is the Race?

The race we are in is not a race of who is better or finishes first. If you focus on those ahead of you, you will fall behind and delay yourself. It isn’t about who finishes first because we all start and finish at different times. It is about helping those around you finish as one unit because we are the Body of Christ. We work together, not trying to be greater than one another.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.

Paul is saying that the race we are running is to be run in such a way that we ought to obtain the prize. The prize is Jesus and eternity with Him; therefore, it should be a desire to spread the good news and help people along the race so that they can cross the finish line and partake of the eternal reward as well. Now, we must run at our best capability to spread the good news of Christ that those people may cross the line too. Part of running the race is being able to cross the finish line with your family in Christ looking and smiling at each other knowing that you all pulled through together hand-in-hand as a whole unit not forsaking nor abandoning one another regardless of where each and everyone was at. There is no better way to finish the race than being with the people you love which is your family in Christ. This is the harvest of all the hard work and tending you have done in your life. To be able to lead others to Jesus so they can finish and receive their reward too.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:23-25.

As we see that day approaching, we don’t forsake each other nor abandon another. Rather, we exhort one another pulling together so that we may finish strong, not complacent. The race isn’t about who is first but rather about the people you finish with. So overall, the race is at hand and there are people scattered along it that need someone to guide them to Christ. Jesus is leading the Body of Christ, and we are a part of His team. There is no greater accomplishment than to be able to cross the finish line together with joy and love.