This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a passage that brought back fond memories (and not so fond memories) of running my first marathon in Arkansas. At the time the distance seemed “eternally” long (26.2 miles). The weather was warm and it grew warmer… And as I ran my body grew more and more tired! I’ve got to tell you, I wanted to quit, give up, and use the “sag wagon!” … But I didn’t – more than my desire to quit was my desire to cross the finish line! So I “pressed on” and finished my first marathon (I’ve finished several since then)!
But there is a longer and much more important “race” that I’m running… It’s the “faith journey” on the way to heaven, and crossing the “finish line” successfully is vitally important!… Here’s how Apostle Paul put it:
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, BUT I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL for THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!” … OUR CITIZENSHIP [our goal – our “finish line”] IS IN HEAVEN, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself!” (Philippians 3:12-14, 20–21 ESV)
Hey, the journey – the “race” – is very long, and sometimes we get tired and discouraged and want to give up! But we “press on!” We don’t give up – we set our focus/our affections upon “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!”
Thinking back to my first marathon – the finish line was worth it! But “The upward call” – the hope of Heaven will be infinitely more worth it! Take it from me, I intend to “press on” regardless!!
Coffee With The Lord 