LIFE IS A RACE FROM START TO FINISH
I’ve been spending a lot of time holding my most recent grandchild, Andrew. Andrew is 6 moths old and a joy to hold. He snuggles close and falls asleep. His smell, the texture of his skin and the sounds he makes are delightful to experience. But he won’t stay this way for long. Holding him as she begins his life prompts me to think about life – Andrew is just beginning and mine has been moving forward for almost 71 years .
He is at the starting line of life, having moved only a short distance on his journey through time. His whole childhood stretches out before him, like the opening stretch on a race around a track. Childhood is the beginning sprint, everything moving fast and changing quickly. There’s lots of growth and development and the time goes very fast. Then he’ll hit the first turn – his teenage years. Life isn’t easy around the turn. There are bumps and confusion. It’s a lot harder moving through those turbulent teenage years. By God’s grace he’ll come out of the turn in good position and balance to make his move down the long back straightway of his 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and even his 50’s. It takes consistent focus on the future goal to keep moving in a straight line. At first the back stretch seems like it will take forever to finish, but before he knows it he’ll be in his 50’s and heading into another time of transition and adaptation.
That last stretch there isn’t as much energy but there is more wisdom, so I run smarter not faster. I determine to pace myself to finish strong. Many fall apart in this stage of the race . I want to keep my eyes on the goal and finish strong. Soon I’ll head into the last straightway, the final push to the end. I want my life to be profitable and focused. I want to set a good example for Andrew
Andrew & I can’t communicate well now, but after he finishes his race I’ll be waiting for him. Then we can share together how God faithfully helped us through our race. Yes, Andrew’s life race is just beginning. Watching him come off the start line helps reaffirm my commitment to run strong and to keep my eyes on the goal of becoming more like Jesus each day. Hopefully with a minimum of stumbles and breaks in stride. God will help Andrew run his race just like He is helping me run mine.
Acts 20:24 However, 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.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
2 Tim 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
How is your race going? You only run it once and it’ll be over before you know it. Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep moving ahead.
Jerry Schmoyer
Christian Training Organization
india.christiantrainingonline.org/