Running for God
Running for God
Anyone who has run seriously knows that when you start out, your body keeps screaming “no, you can’t do this”. But, as you persevere, you pass the point of pain and then you begin sailing. You feel like you are flying as a bird soaring on the wind. You feel a euphoria that is exhilarating. Pastor John and I used to run together 3 miles everyday. Of course that was a long time ago, that was BC. No, it was not before Christ, but before Children. Recently, I have tried to get back into running and my body was crying out, forget it, you can’t do it. But, I am persevering. When we run this race called “LIFE” there are many voices telling us we just “can’t do it”, but as we persevere through the pain, we will reach a place of soaring, if and only if we are RUNNING FOR GOD.
Let’s look at Philippians 3: 12 – 14.
As we look at our text today in Phil. Chapter 3, we can tell that Paul loved sports. If he were alive today, he would be watching the summer & winter Olympics on wide screen TV for sure.
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus. I’m off and running and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14 (Message)
“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 3:14 (NIV)
In verse 12 Paul expresses the realization that he has not arrived at the place of perfection. How encouraging for us. He uses a verb (Elabon) which translates to mean “attained” indicating that at the time of his conversion; he did not receive everything that God had for him. In the NAS version it says “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on…” indicating that he is in a continuous process of being perfected by God daily. In verse 13, Paul again stresses that in order to keep pressing toward the goal; he had to forget what was behind him. It speaks of a continuous, arduous process. He indicates that the slightest looking back will slow him down and may cause him to loose the race. This is true of both a natural race and a spiritual race. We can not be looking back or even to the left or right.
Next we take a look at Hebrews chapter 12. The author of the book of Hebrews is not mentioned. There is a lot of speculation of it being Paul or Apollos. But, whoever it is, they understood running as well. The first two verses of chapter 12 are really a continuation of the faith chapter 11.
When they speak of the pioneers or in the KJV “cloud of witnesses”, they are referring to all of those who have gone on before and are in heaven now watching us run.
“Do you see what this means – all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running – and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.” Hebrews 12:1 (Message)
The first century Jewish Christians were wondering if they were going to have enough faith to finish the course which they began when they confessed Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them might have been wondering whether or not their confession was worth all the trouble it was causing them. The chapter of heroes, Hebrews 11, gave the first century believers hope that they could make it, because the heroes of faith endured suffering, faced persecution and death without seeing the promise completely fulfilled. If those in Hebrews 11 could persevere with out seeing the promise, how much more would the Jewish Christians who had walked with Jesus be encouraged to keep running. What about us, who have the full gospel and have the promise of eternal hope?
“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.” Hebrews 12:2 (Message)
