Think of life as a race along an obstacle course. This is not a race against others, rather a personal endurance race to make it to the end. From the moment we leave the starting blocks we should no longer be concerned with what happened behind us, since we can’t do anything to change it. We must use all our strength and skill to navigate what lies ahead. We must reach the finish line at all cost.
Race
E.V. Hill
The late great Dr. E.V. Hill was once asked if he thought Jesus was Caucasian as depicted in paintings. This was his reply:
“I don’t know anything about a white Jesus… I know about Christ, a Savior named Jesus. I don’t know what color He is. He was born in the brown Middle East; He fled to black Africa; and He was in heaven before the gospel got to white Europe. So, I don’t know what color He is. I do know one thing: if you bow at the altar with color on your mind, you’ll get up with color on your mind. Go back again – and keep going back until you no longer look at His color, but at His greatness and His power – His power to save!”
Katherine Walden
Do you have loved ones who are in a spiritual marathon? Spur them on with written words of encouragement. Be their greatest fan! Watch for opportunities to refresh them with a drink of living water; offer a comforting hug, and give them a hand up when they stumble. Rejoice with them as they complete a particularly challenging section of their race. Offer to be their spiritual coach, nutritionist, or medic as the Lord prompts! But remember, you cannot run their race for them.