Early-morning walking is a necessity in the early summer suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. The sun rises early, and with it comes the heat. On my morning walks, I enjoy praying and taking note of nature as it thrives around me. Listening to a variety of birds as they call, observing baby quail scurrying across streets with their watchful parents, counting how many bunny kits are making their first explorations away from cozy hovels, and, these days, counting the many Amazon drones as they flash by overhead, sounding like a hive of angry bees.
One day, as I walked, a jogger came up on me and passed. We nodded greetings, and I thought, “She’s getting somewhere faster than me.”
The Lord immediately popped a thought into my head: “Run the race marked out for you with perseverance, to win the prize for which God in Christ Jesus has called you heavenward.”
Upon reflection after returning home, I realized what was dropped in my spirit was actually a combination of two verses:
Hebrews 1:3 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” and
Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Run the Race Marked Out for You
Our world is competition crazy.
Our kids are taught early on that value is found in being the best, brightest, fastest, and most beautiful. Whether it’s being the most poised for beauty competitions or the toughest on the field, we keep score of everything. In the scoring, we pass out identity and value like candy tossed out in a parade. Only the top 1-5% are winners, and the rest are either non-winners or disqualified. Talk about an identity dump!
This is not the system in the Kingdom of God. In God’s Kingdom, everything is upside down. As Jesus noted, the last will be first, and the first will be last. In God’s Kingdom, we also have races that are set before us, but the judging isn’t of who comes in first; rather, we are judged by both crossing the finish line and how we cross it.
Winning in the Kingdom
To be winners in the Kingdom, we have to change our carnal perceptions to spiritual perceptions. What is the end goal? Some goals are far in the future, and we need to run with endurance and perseverance so we can win the prize – cross the finish line without being disqualified or quitting. Some goals are quick, and we run with speed, but with the same end goal, to finish well and in a way that glorifies Jesus.
It’s a personal race. There isn’t some giant, divine race that we crowd in on, the starter goes off, and everyone surges ahead to see who will cross the finish line first, attempting not to be trampled in the process, like an earthly race. There isn’t a single trophy, medal, or ribbon that one will wield while all the others who trained and prepared are forgotten.
This race is personal. Both verses above state that it’s a race marked out for us, one we have personally been called to. God has invited us into a personal challenge with a heavenly reward at the end. We have an added bonus of encouragement along the way.
Run From a Place of Victory
If we view our personal races through worldly lenses, 95-99% of us will be disheartened, discouraged, and victor-less. That becomes an identity issue. We begin to believe the label of “loser” that the enemy tacks on our back. NO! We must run the race that Jesus marked out for us, and run it faithfully and obediently. When it gets hard, we persevere. Then our identity matches what Jesus speaks over us: “Victor, Finisher, Winner, Faithful, Obedient.”
God’s Word tells us that we are more than conquerors in Jesus (Romans 8:37). We already have the victory in Him. When we journey in our faith with Jesus, in Jesus, and for Jesus, we can claim that we are already more than a conqueror and have the victory. We race from a place of victory, not for the victory. That’s another upside-down Kingdom concept.
Earthly races are run to win. Kingdom races are run because we have already won. Knowing that, you can enjoy the race, drawing some in to run with you, or cheering others along in their own races.
Every Race Has a Different Pace
I’m a walker, not a racer. I honestly don’t know much about races because I probably would be caught dead in one. Walking is my speed. I do know that at a track meet, there are different races at different speeds. There are sprints, hurdles, middle-distance, relays, and long-distance races. Each requires different training and varying degrees of speed, pacing, and endurance. There are no races for walkers.
Despite that, I was a winner on my walk. I saw many amazing things in nature, had a great time of prayer and worship, and made it back home to my final destination. There are no earthly prizes for that, but in God’s Kingdom, I would have won because I stayed the course and finished.
Finish Your Race Well
Whether you’re a runner or a walker like me, choose to finish well! As you do, you are an example for your children of how to have godly sportsmanship in the race of life, bringing glory to God in the process.
By Amy Sun
FAQ
What does it mean to run the race in the Bible?
Running the race in Scripture refers to faithfully following Christ, persevering through challenges, and continuing toward the purpose and calling God has given us.
What does it mean to run the race marked out for you?
It means recognizing that God has a unique calling and purpose for your life. Your journey may look different from someone else’s, so faithfulness matters more than comparison.
How can Christians persevere when life gets difficult?
Christians can persevere by keeping their eyes on Jesus, relying on God’s strength, and remaining grounded in Scripture. These things will allow us to continue to follow Him even when the journey becomes difficult.
What does it mean to finish well as a Christian?
Finishing well means remaining faithful to Jesus and continuing to live according to His calling throughout every season of life.
How can parents teach children perseverance?
Parents can model perseverance by showing their children what faithfulness looks like in everyday life, especially when circumstances are difficult or progress feels slow.
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