Marathon Man

Instant coffee, instant grits, microwave popcorn, and super fast broad band internet, are all indicative of a people who are accustomed to having what they want NOW!

Christian book stores are filled to the brim with book after book written for an audience looking desperately for a “quick fix” to cure spiritual immaturity. Savvy marketers use attention grabbing words like “New”, “Improved”, “Supersized”, etc to draw super market shoppers to their products. We in America are conditioned to be impatient, to want instant gratification, and over night success.

Church folks, just like the world, go from one fad to another. A spiritual hula hoop comes along, everyone gets one, and then when the newness is gone we go searching for another. I can’t remember how many seminars I have attended in local churches focused on discovering and using spiritual gifts and I didn’t notice my life, or my friend’s lives changing one iota.

The writer of Hebrews characterizes the live of a believer as a marathon, not a hundred yard dash! Hebrews 1:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The picture given is of a runner clothed only in a loin cloth running a marathon with steady patience and endurance thinking only of the finish line and the reward for finishing well.

Jesus is our example. For 3 1/2 years He faithfully taught, preached, warned, corrected, healed, did miracles, and all the time was despised, rejected, hated, scorned, and finally killed by His own people. Yet, He never veered to the right or to the left, but kept on course for the future glory that awaited Him at the Father’s right hand.

We must, like Jesus, not become encumbered with the love of wealth, success, and “things” as we live our lives. And, unlike Jesus, we must forsake the sins that take us off course. It is the hardly noticeable sins that are the most likely to hinder.

Just as a marathon man in the 1st Century would strip off completely everything possible that might hinder the run, we too must pattern ourselves after Jesus who “humbled Himself” by stripping Himself of His place of glory and "learned obedience by the things He suffered".

Is it houses and land, friends and family, sports or even church activity? What is it that you and I need to lay aside so that we can run effectively?

Not only do we need to lighten the load, we need to be patient as we endure the months and years of our race. There is no “quick fix” to spiritual maturity. Further in the same chapter we are reminded that chastisement will be involved along the way. The idea is all that is involved in child rearing, including the trips “out behind the barn” for the rod of correction.

Only those believers who are fixed on the goal and are well equipped with patience will be able to keep running well. We must remember that Jesus is the author and completer of our faith. He is literally running with us and empowering us if we do not get ahead or lag behind. Patiently enduring enables us to make steady progress and to run and not faint.

How’s your marathon going?