Tuesday 22 September 2020

Running

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”Proverbs 18:10 

Some people enjoy running as a form of exercise. Some of us couldn’t think of anything worse! To some bodies it is too jarring and one has to be quite fit to sustain any kind of running for any length of time.


There is a kind of running that doesn’t require high levels of physical fitness, though discipline and determination are necessary. It is exercise that we should be doing all day, every day. 


This exercise is running to the Tower! “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10. Like physical exercise, spiritual running requires training. It doesn’t come naturally to a sinful human to turn to God in temptation. We’d rather just fall into it. But those of us who are running a race that we desire to finish in heaven, must be determined to run in that direction, and allow changes to be made that will assist the process. 


“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. 


“It is through the grace of Christ that we are to be overcomers; through the merits of His blood we are to be of that number whose names will not be blotted out of the book of life. Those who are final overcomers will have the life that runs parallel with the life of God, and wear the crown of the victor. When such great and eternal reward awaits us, we should run the race with patience, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” TDG 175


We must have help and support from the only Source of true strength when training for this race. He must work on, and in, our hearts. “I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart.” Psalms 119:32. 


Our support crew need only be One, but without that One, it is a hopeless exercise. And more than that, we must shun the company of “supporters” who do not help us toward our goal. “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you.” Galatians 5:6-8. 


“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2. 


“Men would subject themselves to self-denial and discipline in order to run and obtain a corruptible crown, one that would perish in a day, and which was only a token of honor from mortals here. But we are to run the race, at the end of which is a crown of immortality and everlasting life. Yes, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory will be awarded to us as the prize when the race is run…And if those who engaged in this race here upon the earth for a temporal crown could be temperate in all things, cannot we, who have in view an incorruptible crown, an eternal weight of glory, and a life which measures with the life of God? When we have this great inducement before us, cannot we “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith”? He has pointed out the way for us, and marked it all along by His own footsteps. It is the path that He traveled, and we may, with Him, experience the self-denial and the suffering, and walk in this pathway imprinted by His own blood.” 2T 358


“God beckons to you from His throne in heaven, presenting to you a crown of immortal glory, and bids you to fight the good fight of faith and run the race with patience. Trust in God every moment. He is faithful that leadeth forward.” 1MCP 105


So, what are you waiting for? Let us start running the right way, with the right Support and in the right direction!