Running The Race
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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2). “Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize. Everyone who competes in the game’s exercises self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we can imperishable one” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
God Disciplines His Sons:
Running the Christian race requires dedication, discipline, perseverance, endurance, and the desire to obtain the prize. Paul ran his race with purpose and discipline to win an eternal crown. In 1 Corinthians 9:24, he encourages others to do the same: “Run in such a way that you may obtain the prize.” This desire must come from our hearts; we need to have the motivation and effort to finish the race. Our hearts and minds must be focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. A key to successful living is self-control—controlling our emotions, desires, passions, and our words. Self-control is about self-discipline. The Bible compares it to sports: “Run your race to win.” To achieve victory, the runner must be free of obstacles, just as we must in the Christian race.
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. We must discard everything that hinders us. The definition of “get rid of” means we must eliminate things that we already know cause us to stumble. Getting rid of something means casting it aside, throwing it away, or stopping actions that lead us to sin. We need to rid ourselves of these burdens that cause us pain. The enemy does not want to see us at peace; he seeks to pull us off course, to lead us away from our lane, and to destroy us by placing various obstacles in our way that may seem appealing but ultimately lead to death. These obstacles include weight, sin, transgression, and iniquity.
The Weight:
The weight hinders us, and we must be willing to pay the price of casting aside every burden in our lives. This effort requires dedication, discipline, and perseverance to succeed. When an athlete trains for a race, discipline is essential in every area, especially in their daily diet. You cannot eat indiscriminately if you aim to win races. Hebrews 12:1 tells us to “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
When a runner gains weight, their performance is affected until they lose it. Extra weight slows them down and detracts from their purpose of obtaining the prize. In the Christian life, a burden is a heavy weight that is difficult to bear during the race. A weight or load, whether physical or spiritual, denotes afflictions, failings, and sins (Psalms 38:4, 55:22). We must lay aside every weight or burden; every sin is a hindrance to running the Christian race. Not only must we cast off indwelling sin, but also every actual transgression; it should be laid on Christ. As a sin, it should be avoided and discarded. Let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us. As soon as we empty our vessels of all the garbage and burdens that hinder our race, we need to fill ourselves with the Word of God, allowing us to run more easily. “You’ve got to throw some things off to put some things on.”
Sin:
Sin is defined as doing what is wrong or failing to do what is right according to God’s rules (1 John 3:4). If God says, “Do not lie,” and you lie, then you have sinned. Sin is entirely inconsistent with the Christian life. According to God, sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2). By God’s standards, we are all sinners. But God has done something truly incredible! He paid the penalty for our sins when He died on the cross and rose again three days later. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
If there is a specific area in your life where you often fall into sin, you must address the root of the problem and remove it! You won’t be free from it until you take action to demonstrate your repentance. Whatever it may be, confront its root and eliminate the temptations that cause you to stumble. A good way to overcome temptations is to flee from them and avoid the people and places that lead you astray (2 Timothy 2:22). Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7). The word “resist” means to withstand, strive against, or oppose: to fend off temptation; to stand firm against; to refuse to cooperate with or submit to. James 4:6-8 says, “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Jesus successfully resisted the wilderness temptations of Satan (Luke 4:1-13). In each instance, Jesus’ response to the devil was, “It is written!” We must incorporate God’s Word into every facet of our lives—every thought, word, and action. A biblically grounded believer will consistently overcome the devil and his strategies. Ephesians 6:10-18 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Transgression:
Transgression is willfully disobeying one of God’s laws. It can also mean refusing to do what God asks you to do. It is rebellion against His authority. Psalm 32:5 says, “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, we begin to agree with Him that certain behaviors are wrong. When we break His laws and walk in the wrong direction, we confess those transgressions because we recognize their seriousness and value our relationship with Him. He knows our hearts, and He forgives us because of this relationship.
Iniquity:
Iniquity refers to a particular deviation from rectitude; a sin or crime; wickedness; any act of injustice. “Your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isaiah 59). “He will turn again; He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19). 1 John 2:1 says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, ‘I know him,’ and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Conclusion:
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27). What did Paul mean by this? Paul had two goals: one in this life and another in eternity. His first goal was to win lost souls for Christ. He stated, “To the weak I become weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23).
Winning the spiritual race doesn’t depend on how fast you run; it is determined by how you run. Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through Him (John 3:16-17). In this great race, quitting is not an option. Aren’t you glad you have a heavenly Father cheering you on to the finish line? If you just put one foot in front of the other, God will help you reach the finish line. If we stay committed, getting up every day, God will provide the strength, talent, ability, tools, and favor you need to succeed.
We must take off the garments of sin and put on the robe of perseverance, intent, and purpose to live for Christ, laying aside the things of this earth and running with great determination toward our promised eternity. We must never give up and must never quit. We must run with readiness, commitment, and accountability, embodying a spirit of excellence. Run the race with power. Run for the millions who do not know Jesus and need redemption. Run for your children and your children’s children. Run with a spirit of excellence and finish the race!
Salvation:
Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and that my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life and turn toward You. Please forgive me and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, and is alive. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send Your Holy Spirit to help me obey You and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
If you said that prayer sincerely from your heart, we believe you have been born again. Welcome to the family of God! We encourage you to find a local church where you can be baptized and grow in the knowledge of God through His Word, the Bible.
