A full marathon is 26.2 miles long. I saw the following car window sticker and it reminded me of certain times in my life. Though humorous, it did hit home:
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:
1 As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.
Those great witnesses are cheering us on from Above. They set forth a foundation from which we continue onto perfection. Let us not allow our passion and determination to falter. We are called to “make life happen” in ourselves and others. We need to sow seeds of Agape Love and kindness when given the opportunity.
2 We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because His heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be His, He endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the Throne of God!
If your attention and expectation is focused elsewhere, then repent and return it to Jesus and His Divine Intent for you. Jesus spent no time discussing Rome and its politics. Instead His focus was to redeem mankind, show the Goodness of Our Heavenly Father, heal the sick, and cast out demons. This should be our focus as well.
3 So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls, so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures. 4 After all, you have not yet reached the point of sweating blood in your opposition to sin. 5 And have you forgotten His encouraging words spoken to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t underestimate the value
of the discipline and training of the Lord God,
or get depressed when HE has to correct you.
6 For the Lord’s training of your life
is the evidence of HIS faithful Love.
And when HE draws you to HIMSELF,
it proves you are HIS delightful child.”
7 Fully embrace God’s correction as part of your training, for HE is doing what any Loving father does for his children. For who has ever heard of a child who never had to be corrected? 8 We all should welcome God’s discipline as the validation of authentic Sonship. For if we have never once endured HIS correction it only proves we are strangers and not sons.
What a powerful statement! What else can I say? There are those of us who will persevere through our time of correction and complete our mission and there are those who won’t. What will be FATHER’S assessment of you? Will you finish the marathon race full of obstacles or will you quit because of agony and conflict?
The proper path to run has been set before us and it was written in our books before we were even formed in the womb. FATHER has provision in Heaven to enable us to complete the race. Our faith is meant to pull it down to reality.
Embrace whatever correction and obstacles you are facing. Just because I nearly died five times, I didn’t give up and I encourage you to embrace the above passage and join me in that same mindset. Our Heavenly witnesses are our cheering squad so let us all cross the finish line together. It is not important to be first but instead it is to cross the finish line together. Let these words encourage you to join me in this marathon race to the end.
Don’t ever give up, don’t ever back off!