Running the Race

For much of this last year I had felt pretty distant from Jesus. I went from attending chapel twice a week to once a month if I was lucky. I went from being in the word daily, earnestly seeking truth, to flipping through a few chapters once a week or so. Sin had crept into my life in many different ways and I was feeling pretty hopeless. I had a picture in my mind of what a student studying biblical and theological studies should look like: filled with the Holy Spirit, exuding infectious joy at all times, wise beyond his years, and living a life full of prayer and submission to God.

I realize that my view of what my life should look like was pretty unreasonable. Life is messy. The picture that I had was completely overwhelming me, even scaring me from trying to become more like Jesus. There are going to be times where I do not feel joyful. There are going to be times where I feel like there is no amount of faith that can move me out of complacency, let alone move mountains. I realize that I am going to have to battle against the powers and principalities of this world every day that I live.

It may seem pretty weird, but just the realization that I am going to have failures and shortcomings throughout the day gave has given me a great sense of peace. I am not using it as an excuse to sin! Rather, I am saying that becoming like Christ is a process that involves many failures as well as victories. God knows I am going to fail, but it is his love and forgiveness that has given me an overwhelming sense of joy that makes it possible to persevere. I think Hebrews 12 puts it well:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Amen