Ready! Set! Go!

From children in a relay race, to a high school track meets, to the Olympic Games; I love to watch a race. There is just something about the competition and the enthusiasm that is great to see. All of the players involved have put much time into preparation for this event. Now as they approach the starting line they are ready to perform their best.

Believers in Christ are also called to run a race. “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1 AMP) We are to prepare, be ready and run the course of the life that God has planned for each of us.

 Get ready! The training and preparation has been put in and now it’s time to line up and start the race. Much time has been put in toning and strengthening the body. Another part of the preparation was to choose the proper apparel. A runner does not wear baggy clothes that would catch the wind and slow him or her down. Neither would this runner wear or carry anything with unnecessary weight. No backpacks full of rocks for this runner. The shoes a competitor chooses would also be appropriate to the individual runner’s feet and the terrain of the path of the race.

A Christian trains for the race by studying the Scripture and spending time in prayer. Each day we are to line up to complete the course God places before us. The unnecessary weight or inappropriate clothing that would slow us down is sin. As the writer of Hebrews has said we must strip it off and throw it aside. The shoes that we choose must be crafted by the gospel. “And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15 AMP) In our race we will encounter the temptation and trials put forth by the enemy. We must be ready with the word of God.

Get set! Not only does a competitor approach the starting line, he now sets himself in the proper position to enhance his start when he hears the command to go. In many cases this position may be uncomfortable but it is always valuable.

We are also told to get set. “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2 AMP) By setting our minds on the higher things of God’s will and not our own selfish desires is crucial as we begin the race. Many things that we will encounter during the course of our day can throw us off track. By deciding in advance that we will follow God’s way and strive to fulfill his purpose, we will find it easier to resist the temptations that are in our path. Therefore we set our minds before we even begin our race.

Go! Finally the long anticipated command is sounded. Whether it be a gunshot, a dropped flag or the actual word, the signal to go is when the competitor can finally release all that energy and head toward the goal. At this point nothing is held back. The race is on and all focus is on completing the race.

We have heard this command straight from the mouth of Jesus. Before he left this earth he spoke these words to his disciples. “Go then and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19a AMP) Every believer receives the same command. As we go about each day of our lives we are to impact the people we encounter with the love of Jesus Christ. We are to faithfully follow the direction of the Holy Spirit in every conversation and every action. Even if the course becomes rocky, conditions are less than favorable or we become tired, we must run with persistence on our appointed course.

 We run to win. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours.” (1 Corinthians 9:24 AMP) Each of us has a unique course before us. A prize awaits us at the end so we must run to make it ours.

 Each day, be sure to get ready, set your mind and run the course God has set before you.