Running the Race
Church family, this is an exciting time as we celebrate important milestones. We celebrated the graduation of these boys and girls from kindergarten, mothers and fathers dedicating their child to the Lord, and we will be recognizing and celebrating high school and college graduates this coming Sunday. How exciting!
One of the simplest yet greatest reminders as we approach these important milestones is that they are not the finish line, but the next step on a lifelong marathon. But what is the lifelong marathon that we are on?
God’s Word would say it is our sanctification. This is God growing us to become less like our sinful selves and to become more like Jesus. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is God’s will, your sanctification.” When something is God’s will, it means that is what He desires and plans for us. God’s desire is for us to grow in Christ-likeness until we see Him face-to-face. We don’t stop running until we have crossed the finish line.
Don’t we see that this is a lifelong marathon for all of us who have trusted in Jesus? If it isn’t until Jesus returns or calls us home that we are at the finish line, then every moment, everyday, and every milestone is a reason to keep growing in Christ-likeness.
This is exactly what we are going to be challenged with this coming Sunday from Philippians 2:12-13, where Paul tells us to keep working out the work that God has begun within us who have been saved by the blood of Jesus.
Even though Paul said, “he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6), he does not encourage being passive in our walk with Christ.
Rather, Paul exemplified a proactive long-life pursuit of Christ-likeness saying near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
Everyday we ought to ask ourselves the question: Could I truthfully say these words of Paul with all of my heart?
Pastor John
