I’ve never been much of a runner. But about 10 months ago, in an effort to improve my fitness, I bought myself a pair of good running sneakers and decided to give it a go. I started out slow and gradually built up my time, distance, and endurance. And, lo and behold, I found that I actually enjoy it (most of the time).
Sometimes though, I find it a bit overwhelming to think of how far I still have to go to complete my desired distance for that day, especially if I feel tired early on. So instead of looking at the entire run, I will focus on just the next 1/2 mile. Then when I complete that 1/2 mile, I will focus on the next 1/2 mile, and so on. Then after I go for a while, I’ll say to myself, “well, you did that mile, you can do another.” And before you know it, I am done.
While engaging in this “self-pep talk,” it occurred to me that this is not unlike my Christian walk (or “run”). In the process of sanctification, becoming more and more like Christ, I can become discouraged with how far I have yet to go. Can you relate? We focus on our shortcomings and failures, and we feel like we will never make it to complete Christlikeness. But while we can’t get stuck there, I think it is beneficial to take a look back once in a while, not to pat ourselves on the back, but to see how far the Lord has brought us already. And instead of being overwhelmed by how far we have yet to go, maybe we need to just focus on what the Lord is currently working on in our hearts and lives, allowing Him to make those changes in us. Then, when by His grace we pass that test, He can move us on to the next thing. And before you know it, we have moved a few steps forward in our journey to be like Jesus.
See, the Christian life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And we won’t cross the finish line until the end of our earthly journey, when “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2).
In the meantime, during our earthly race, let us cooperate with His work in our lives, as moldable clay in the Potter’s hands, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:1-2).
Victory Call 