Running

2Ti 4:7 (ASV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: (GNB) I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. (ISV) I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. (KJV+) I have foughtG75 a goodG2570 fight,G73 I have finishedG5055 my course,G1408 I have keptG5083 theG3588 faith:G4102

• You, like Paul, have a race, a course, a distance for your life;
• This path requires fulfillment;
• Fulfillment means to complete, execute, conclude, accomplish;
• We need to do our 'best' in running this 'career' that is the path of our destiny;
• What race will you have run, when you reach the end of it;
• Paul says he has finished, accomplished, executed the race, the full distance;
• There is a race, a career,a course for you to accomplish and execute;
• On the course we are able to observe, preserve, reserve and serve the faith;
• Staying on track allows us to fulfill the faith walk;
• Allows us to fulfill the command of faithful living;
• On our course is the grace to live by faith and maintain its cause.

I remember the first marathon I had to run, or rather chose to run. It was a whole 42 km's. The race was before me and I chose to run it. I wanted the medal, at all costs. This was to be my first full marathon. my father-in-law and I had run a few shorter distances and we had helped Michelle's uncles run a few hundred-miler's ( That is 100 miles of running. From 7pm until finished, normally the next day some time). Of course, helping is not the race itself.

The starters gun fired and we took off. From experience on the very long runs and shorter ones that we had completed, I had learnt to start slow and pace myself, especially since i was known as a "plodder". But then I would rather plod and finish than try and win the race in the first 30 minutes and not make even half the distance.

I remember on one occasion we were helping on a 100 mile race and this novice took off bouncing down the road. Freddy and Eric, Michelle's 2 uncles, said,"We will see him soon". Sure enough, a few hours later an ambulance went past and, as we discovered the next day, ( he was laying in the medical tent) it was our bouncing athlete.

So, here I was running my first official full marathon. It probably was the worst on the circuit I could have chosen. From the beginning, we had to double back and run past each other. It wasn't the best organised, but I was determined. After running about 28 km's, my legs decided that it was the end of the road for them, but I was determined...

I walked the rest of the way. 14 km's!
I wasn't stone last. I was only second last. Everybody wanted to go home, so they kept asking me if I wanted a ride. No. I could see that jolly medal, even though it was only bronze, sitting there waiting for me. I had to finish this race. Well I did and I did get my medal. The whole time I was walking, I could see that medal and I knew that if I gave up - no medal. Of course, what would the rest of the guys say?
No, I persevered and accomplished and completed, the race, the path that was chosen.
I still have the medal today and the race was....well, I'm not sure if I should tell you; what the heck,... about 19 years ago!

Anyway, the point is, there is path, it has to be run and it must be run with cause, with determination, with our best effort. Finish. Arrive at the destination of your life. Arrive honorably, having "kept" the faith. Forget the distractions to get you off the track. Persevere, even when you feel like quitting. Keep seeing the end goal:

2Ti 4:8 And now there is waiting for me the victory prize of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day---and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.