So many races. There are various types of foot races, dog races, automobile races, horse races, rat races and even turtle races. Races are ran to see who or what might be the fastest. Races can be very exciting, challenging and even questionable. Some races are so close that a camera is needed to decide who actually won. That’s called a photo finish.
We also refer to mankind as the human race. I’m not really sure why they call it a race, but maybe, just maybe it could be because we are so competitive and seem to only want the upper hand on those around us. We seem to always be struggling for superiority. We fight for it with those who have different skin pigmentation than we have. We fight with those who seem to have more than we do, or less than we do. We seem to be constantly at odds with anyone who is different, and we may even think that they are weird. But maybe we are the weird one.
There is another race. Paul was in it. He wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Sitting in a Roman prison, awaiting what he knew would be certain execution, Paul wrote these words to Timothy, a young minister he had taken under his wing. Writing these words of his life-race – the race for eternal life, he could write them without hesitation. He had spent his life preaching the gospel. He had been threatened of death on many occasions, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked multiple times, living as an example of Christ and sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ where ever God led him.
It wasn’t about a life of plenty or luxury. In fact, Paul knew what it was like to be rich and poor. He knew what it was like to be hunted and a wanted man. He knew and experienced persecution that would make most of us question if God really loved him. He did. Paul knew it. And he spent his life in obedience to God, being ever faithful to Jesus Christ who had appeared to him on that Damascus Road so many years before. His race was nearly over. He had run well.
It wasn’t a race against other people. He wasn’t trying to be better than anyone else. It wasn’t a contest with people. It wasn’t a competition with other Christians in effort to be “holier” or a better Christian. It wasn’t his purpose to have the biggest crowd getting thousands in offerings. In fact, the only offerings that we know of in Paul’s ministry were taken to relieve other Christians who were in need. Where ever he went he set up his business of tent making and worked for a living. But his main job wasn’t to sell tents, but to give the “tent of man” the good news and opportunity to be saved from the curse of hell. With a clear conscience, he knew he had obeyed God and that when his race would be over, he would finish well.
This race was not unique for Paul. In fact, every person on the face of this planet that lives today, or ever lived, is in this same race. Again, not against each other, but against the curse of death and hell. Without the good news of Jesus Christ, we are all doomed and helpless to be saved from the curse. Without Jesus Christ we will certainly go to hell when we die. It is inevitable for us all. That’s the bad news.
The good news is this: Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself on a Roman cross as a sinless sacrifice for sin – the mark missed by all of mankind. We all are guilty of it. In fact, because man disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, the whole planet falls under the curse and groans to be free of it (see Romans 8:19-23). Only a sinless human sacrifice could pay the penalty for that sin. But there was none to be found. Not one individual on this Earth, regardless how good they lived, was worthy to be that sacrifice. Even if a man or woman wanted to do that for the rest of mankind, they weren’t worthy. They weren’t sinless because all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).
That’s why God lowered Himself, coming to Earth as a baby in the form of His only son, Jesus Christ. He alone lived thirty-three years without sin. He was the only one worthy to be that sacrifice. He was willing, and even though the Romans may have thought they crucified Jesus, little did they know that He laid His life down. That paid for our sin.
But there was one step more to complete the good news. On the third day, He arose from the dead. His resurrection was not one that would result in death again, like that of Lazarus. Jesus had brought Lazarus back to life, but at some point, he had to die again. Instead, Jesus arose victorious over sin, death, hell and the grave.
Now here’s the great part of this good news: When we repent (change our mind, ask Jesus to forgive our sin, and believe in Him) and we believe in His death and resurrection, and accept His good news as being good news for us personally and individually, then we will be given the same victory Jesus won – we, in Him, will be victorious over sin, death, hell and the grave. Whether you want to believe it or not, even if others may think it to be utter foolishness, when we accept it in our lives and allow Christ to change us completely and forever, we are forgiven of our sin and made completely new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15).
That’s the race. It is the most important race in all the history of mankind. There’s only one way to win it and that is to accept salvation as found in the good news. Then for the rest of our lives we live for Christ. At the end of our race, we are given much more than a trophy – We are given the gift of eternal life. We get a room in the mansion of God. Instead of eternal death in hell, we are granted eternal life with Jesus Christ. That’s the good news. That’s why this is the most important race you will ever run.
How will your race end? What waits for you at the end of your race?
– Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit our website at spiritbread. com to download these and more completely free of charge.