Amazing Race

Earlier this week, my sister invited me to join her and some other people in running what is called the Warrior Dash. It is exactly as brutal as it sounds, although it was presented to me as "fun" and "challenging". Basically, you run a 3 mile race with intermittent obstacles thrown in along the way. These obstacles include running through tires, running through waist high water, climbing up a rope wall, sprinting up a hill, crawling through mud and jumping over fire. Intense. But imagine the feeling when you make it to the end of something like that? I get excited when I finish a 45 minute cardio workout. I cant imagine the sense of accomplishment you would feel when you push yourself to the limit and succeed.

You see, I have forgotten that the spiritual life is a lot like that Warrior Dash. It is fun, but it also is challenging. It is not a sprint, but a marathon. It requires one to keep going until the race is finished. There is no stopping. Stopping leads to standing still and in a life with Christ, standing still leads to being lazy and stagnant and lukewarm. And the Lord says being lukewarm is a very bad thing: "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." - Revelation 3:16.

I find myself going through periods where I love the race. I love the sweat and hard work that it takes to prepare for and enter in to the race. I like the challenge of making myself "ready" to tackle challenges. But what happens all too often is that I eventually lose focus and my drive to persevere takes a back seat to my desire to stop and get comfortable. And my mind convinces itself that I deserve this break and this rest. And sometimes rest and renewal is entirely necessary.  But they only work when they are within the arms of the Lord. All other rests are breaks in a communion with Him that lead us away from the path and in to our own land of self gratification and easy answers.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:12-14

I am learning that I need to keep running. I need to continue to move toward Christ and not stop. I need to realize that while I may have completed one obstacle, the race is not over. I have not finished yet. I must keep going and keep my mind and body and spirit ready for the Spiritual battle that is all around me. To not stay "fit" for the race is a huge error on my part. We must stay healthy and train ourselves for success.

Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Where are you in the race? Are you mid lap and loving it? Are you tired of running in what seems like endless circles? Are you in the midst of an obstacle that seems too daunting? Have you just completed an obstacle and feel like you need a rest? Or are you watching from the bleachers? Or standing at the starting line? Or simply standing still? Wherever you are, remember to keep moving and keep submitting yourself to the training process. Get in the race and get moving toward Christ. Let Him move your feet when they can't move anymore. Let Him be your Living water when you need a drink. Let Him renew your mind when you can't seem to remember the end goal or the prize. In other words, "deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23).