August 23rd, 2024

​Like most Americans, I spent a good part of the first of this month with eyes glued to the Olympic games, and my guess is that many of you have as well. That’s because every four years the stories spawned by the various competitions inspire us all to new heights of effort. Who among us doesn’t know the name Katie Ledecky or Simone Biles or by now, Stephen Nedoroscik. Each Olympics introduces us to someone we’d never heard about, but who now is the topic of conversation around so many gatherings. 
 
I must admit that I envy the athletes, especially the runners. Part of my envy is because I hate running. I like to watch other people run; I just don’t like to run myself. But even then, there are moments when I fancy myself blowing away the competition, wrapping myself in the flag for a victory lap, and then standing on the medal stand bowing to receive my medal as the Star-Spangled Banner is played in the background. But it will never happen, certainly not at this stage of my life.
 
However, there is another competition to which I am called, along with fellow believers in Jesus Christ. It is the competition of faith, which in the book of Hebrews is called a “marathon” (in the Greek, agona, from which we get our English word “agony”). The text reads, “Let us run with perseverance the ‘marathon’ that is set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). As the writer of Hebrews so vividly describes, we run this race with “the great cloud of witnesses” cheering us on. All the saints of heaven are urging us forward to the victory that is ours through faith in Christ Jesus.
 
Unfortunately, many of us live each day with a sense of defeat. It seems like everyone is passing us by and we’d be better off giving up the race rather than making a fool of ourselves by continuing to compete. 
 
Perhaps that’s how you’re feeling. Don’t give up; keep running. And as you do, consider the cause of whatever may be holding you back. The book of Hebrews gives us some suggestions. Is it some sin that is encumbering you? Throw it off; lay it aside. Is it fear of the course to which you’ve been called to follow? Don’t look at the course; look at Jesus.  Is it the people who criticize you along the way? Listen to the witnesses cheering you on and think about the opposition that Jesus faced and overcame.
 
Then one day when you come to the end of your race, you’ll have nothing to regret, because you did your best with the grace that came your way.  And when you bow down before the One who was lifted up for us all on the cross, you will receive your reward and know that, looking back, it was worth all the sacrifice.  In the meantime, live each day like the winner you are called to be.