Running The Right Race

Passage

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24


Pondering

In this life we are to run in the right race, not the rat race! I read a story recently about a cross-country championship in Riverside, California. Out of 128 runners only 5 runners finished the race properly. You see, Mike Delcavo knew the organizer of the race and knew the course very well. When he saw the others going the wrong way he motioned for them to follow him. Only four followed him, the rest laughed and mocked and went their own way. Only Mike and the other four finished correctly and gained the prize.

It is no different in this life where we're all running a race. But do we know the organizer, Jesus, who will show us the course layout by His Spirit? As we run correctly there will be many who mock and laugh at us but if we keep on running in His race we will gain the prize of being with Him eternally.

In the above story, the other runners actually crossed the finishing line before Mike and the other four but were disqualified as they had taken a short cut. That's the trouble when you run in the rat race, taking short cuts to get there first. Someone once said that you can win the rat race but you are still a dirty old rat! The only race worth running is God's glorious race that the Apostle Paul ran in and, at the end of his full life, could say, "I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness." 2 Timothy 4:7-8. I want to run this race and no other.

Poem

You may run well in the rat race,
Beating all the others flat.
But when you arrive in first place,
You'll find that you're still a dirty rat!

Prayer

"Father God, keep me from running all worthless races and give me the strength to run your race, even when others mock and laugh at me for doing so. Amen!"