A Running Theme (Pun Intended)

II Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.

Paul is at the end of his life. He knows this is the end, he is about to be executed. He is confident that he has fought the good fight, finished the race, and remained faithful. Do you want to be able to say that at the end of your life? That you fought the good fight? That you finished the race, you didn't quit? That you remained faithful?

In another translation the part about remaining faithful is translated kept the faith. So if Paul is saying he kept the faith, is it possible to lose it? This brings up many questions, such as, can you lose your salvation? Can we become disqualified in any way? Paul was concerned about that in I Cor. 9:27.

I Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

If there is a way to run to obtain the prize (and what is that anyway?), then there must be a way to run to hinder yourself from obtaining the prize.

This verse gives us a clue:

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off and throw aside every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author, source, and finisher of our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, ignoring the shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Just think of Him who endured such grievous and bitter hostility from sinners, so that you may not grow weary and give up.

This one, too:

Acts 20:24
Nothing moves me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news of God's grace.

And this one:

Philippians 2:16
I will hold fast the Word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run the race in vain or labored in vain.

Throw aside sin, it trips you up, you can only do that by keeping your eyes on Jesus; don't let anything move you, or count your life dear; and hold fast the Word of life!

Now, this is not about achieving perfection:

Philippians 3:12-14
I have not achieved or reached perfection, but I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me and made me His own. I have not grasped it yet, but one thing I do, I forget what lies behind and look forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

This is about pressing on, forgetting what lies behind, and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Notice every one of these verses mentions a race. How is your race going? Are you running? Are you moving forward? I don't think you can sit still in this race. I think you are either going forward or backward. As a Christian, does your behavior matter? Didn't God forgive all your sin when Christ died on the cross? And what about the prize mentioned in so many of these verses? Stay tuned...

(Note: Some of these verses may be a combination of translations.)