By Ruby Ramsey

"Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Our Christian lives are like a race. We begin the race when we are baptized into Christ. In order to obtain the prize we must stay in the race until we reach the finish line which is at the end of our lives.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 reads:

"The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong..."

People from all walks of life can be in this race... the young, the old, the weak, the maimed, the crippled, the smart and those not so smart. We run this race in tune with the Word of God. We do what He says. That's how we know we are staying on track.

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

We gain strength from God who will help us run our race. He will renew our strength when we walk with Him and every time we spend time in His Word. We will not grow weary in the race, because He gives us the strength to endure.

I will run in the way of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:32)

We must trust in God as we run this race. We must stay on the right path. We must be careful and not let sin lure us off track. We must keep our focus on Jesus and remember all He has done for us, especially giving His life for our sins.

Do you not know those who run in a race, all run but one receives the prize? Run in such as way that you may receive it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable one. (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

As we run the Christian race, we have a goal in mind. It is not money, or a trophy, or a blue ribbon. We are aiming for a crown of life.

Blessed in the man who endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

May we be able to say at the end of our lives the same thing Paul said near the end of his life:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day and not to me only, but also to those who have loved His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

A crown of righteousness, a crown of life -- what a prize! That is the motivation we have to keep us running the race!