In the Race?

Galatians 5:7-8 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
 
MOST of us at some time in our lives have run a race. Paul used running a race in several epistles to describe the Christian life. Have you thought much about this? After all, it’s likely no one reading this has recently run a race. Why not?
    Running requires a good deal of effort. Perhaps it's too much work. Running requires conditioning. We might not want to spend time and effort strengthening our bodies. A race is run on a planned course. Maybe we like to run our own route at our own pace. Maybe we don’t like to run. It’s too hard on our bodies.
    A race may also have unregistered runners blocking your route. That is the kind of persuasion that does not come from the one who called you. These are people who seem like runners but want to take you out of the race. They may threaten or ridicule you to change your course or leave the route.
    That’s why a race requires organization and obedient participation. Your Christian life is a race on God’s course. It is not about someone casually running on his own at his own pace over his own route on his own time. Following Christ requires you to say, “I’m registered to run!” You need to know the rules and the starting point. You will need to build your strength, understand your purpose, be prepared to endure pain, fight off weariness and focus on the route.  
    And that’s Paul’s point. The Christian life requires persistent and determined participation. When you confess Jesus as your Lord, you begin training in Jesus’ teachings. Strengthening occurs when you activate his teachings into your daily life. You learn the course Jesus has set for you when you understand your spiritual gifts. In the power of those gifts, you begin to run with others in the church to encourage one another forward. You compete against those who do not belong in the race. They will attempt to block you from your appointed route. When you are weary, you pause for a refreshing drink of the Living Water, and you eat of the Bread of Life.  
    The race becomes an even more relevant image when we realize each race has more spectators than participants. God has chosen you to run. You cannot be a bystander to God’s work on earth. Moving toward God and into his will does not allow you to sit while others run.
    God’s race also requires your constant attention to the signs God erects to direct you into his plans. There are no shortcuts to completing the race. You run with God until your days are done.
    Have you registered? The prize of eternal life with Jesus awaits you.