Recently, my attention was drawn to an event that was just held in Australia. It was a race called the “Tough Mudder”. What a title!
I was curious about this so I did some research on the web. I found out that it is an event that people train for, even up to a year or more and they pay to enter the race.
What does it consist of? Crawling through the mud on your belly under barbed wire, running through fire, jumping into pools of ice and even crawling under live wires!
Who would do this and for what reward? I was curious about this too, and to my amazement, I found out that there is a winner but the rest get a can of beer and a protein bar! Are you kidding me?
I have been teaching a study on 1Corinthians 9 and Hebrews 12. In comparing these two passages with this race, it raises some interesting thoughts and questions in my thinking! What caught my eye?
It was 1 Corinthians 9: 25, 26a. “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly…”
Every athlete exercises self control in all things but they do it to receive a perishable wreath! Really?
All that exercising, all that training, all that discipline for a Christmas wreath, to put it into perspective! It will die, it will soon fall apart. It will be worthless!
When I read the next phrase, I am awed and challenged! “But we an IMPERISHABLE!”
In Christ we are running our race for that which is imperishable not temporary! How amazing is that?
If you are discouraged today or facing a trial – I trust that you will be encouraged to focus on what lies before you at the end of this race. Verse 26 assures us that our running is not in vain.
Hebrews 12:1,2 gives us some instruction that will help us to keep running the race set before us:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
We cannot run with baggage and sin clinging to us- we must learn to lay it aside. In our flesh, that is impossible, but look at verse 2! “Looking unto Jesus.” When we fix our eyes on Him and not our circumstances, we gain endurance.
When we focus on Jesus, He will live His life in us and through us giving us the power we need to keep moving forward. When you are tempted to give up or quit – focus on His example. He, for the joy set before Him, providing our forgiveness, endured the cross and all the mocking and shame!
Beloved, look unto Jesus! He is the greatest coach you will ever have or need!