The Race

by Terry Wane Benton

"The race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1) is the marathon of all marathons, the life-long run to finish without giving up. It is the race to receive the ultimate reward.

The prize is more than worth the discipline, so the motivation to enter this race and finish should be very strong. The Lord describes it as "eternal life" in a place specially prepared, where no sin will enter and spoil, where there is no pain or sorrow or weeping, and there is only beauty, excellence, and joy.

There is special bread to eat along the race course, and it gives strength and energy to sustain you. There is a special living water to drink to refresh you. You do not have to beat anyone else. The only person you have to beat is your old self, and you can beat him by staying close to your new companion and strength giver, Jesus. Great companion, great supplies, great reward! A race that I can win with all this in my favor!

I signed up many years ago and have been running this race with endurance. It is the race that God set before us all. The food and drink supply gets better and better, and the encouragement is out of this world. I would be a fool to stop running now. You would be a fool not to enter and take advantage of the empowering nourishment that makes this race sustainable and worth everything. The finish line is just around the curve for all of us. You must be in Christ to be qualified for the prize (I Corinthians 9:24f), and you must run with discipline and endurance according to the rules. Are you in or out?