The Christian Life is a Race Everyone enjoys a race for the excitement, the thrill of crossing the finish line, the joy of receiving the prize. However, most of us have only sat on the sidelines and watched the races go by. Nevertheless, if you are a Christian, one who has received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you are in a race. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews says, Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, put away every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race which is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1) The Christian life is not a sprint, nor is it a stroll through the park. Rather, the New Testament says, run with endurance the race which is set before us. God has set a race before us. This race is a marathon. What is needed is not mere speed, but endurance. As believers in Christ we live in a world that is against Christ. There is a tide, even a flood of sin and encumbrances keeping us from running this New Testament race. Unforgiven sins, anxieties of life and the deceitfulness of fame and wealth weigh us down, making it seem impossible to run this race. We become encumbered and so easily entangled. As Christians living in this world and not in a vacuum. What are we to do? How do we stand against the flood of dissoluteness? Where do we find the endurance to press on? Referring back to Paul’s word in Hebrews 12, he tells us how to run this race. Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Though we live in an age with many encumbrances and distractions taking us away from our Lord, our secret is to look away unto Jesus. When our sight is filled with this wonderful One, everything else pales in comparison. He is the peerless One. No one can compare with Him. He is the magnet that draws us away from all other things to Himself. As Christian students we enjoy looking away unto Jesus. We find Him in His Word, because the Bible is full of Christ (Luke 24:27). His Word becomes our food (Matthew 4:4), our strength, even the joy and rejoicing of our heart (Jeremiah 15:16). Furthermore, there is a real strength and supply in running with other believers. This race is not to be run individually. Rather, the New Testament strongly proclaims: Flee youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (II Timothy 2:22) It is in this way Christ becomes our strength and endurance to run the Christian race. The Word of God and our fellow believers in Christ are essential factors to make us victorious runners of the New Testament race.
		nourishment from the word