Years ago when I used to jog, a friend of mine suggested that I run a marathon. I reminded him that I only jog a mere 2 miles a day and a marathon is 26.2 miles! Running a marathon is completely different than a little 2 mile jog. Still, let’s think about someone in a marathon foot race. When someone starts a race, they’re usually in a “good” mood – they feel “happy!” They start the race believing that they’re going to finish it and nothing is going to stop them!
Then the race starts! And everyone begins with an incredible sense of direction and purpose and energy, but not everyone will finish the race. For many, weariness sets in. The cheering crowd thins out and all of the runners out in front have gotten so far ahead that they can’t be seen any more. Taking a look behind, and to the left and right there’s no one visible either, and a feeling of loneliness overcomes the runner. It’s at this point that the runner does their best to catch their breath and pace themselves because they know that they’re really far from the end.
It’s my understanding that there are two critical times in a marathon race for a runner. The first critical time is at the beginning of the race. There’s the danger that the runner might expend all of their energy. If they do, they won’t have enough energy left to finish the race, and so pacing is important. The second critical time in a marathon is at the halfway point. That’s the point when the runner realizes that there’s still a long way to go. It’s here that a strong desire to “keep on, keepin’ on” is necessary.
Spiritually speaking, the Christian life is very much like running a marathon. There are different “stages” in the Christian’s faith-walk to the finish line that require a “stick-to-itiveness.” The well-known Hebrews 10:23-25 comes to mind. There the Hebrew writer encourages us: “23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The way Christians “finish the race” is not with dazzling speed and thrilling mountain top experiences. The Christian finishes the race slow and steady with patience, persistence, and perseverance.
While many Christians will never run a marathon foot race, if we are faithful to Christ and continue our walk with Him to death, Jesus will give us the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Then like the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, we can say: “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
