#16

If you were to read over my bucket list, you would find a collection of random adventures, tasks and off the wall things that I want to accomplish in my lifetime.  One of my top things on my bucket list, that I have been trying to complete for so long is number sixteen.

16. Run a half-marathon.

I know it sounds crazy, but for someone like me that actually enjoys running, knowing that I am less than a month away from the finish line brings me so much joy.  Training has definitely had its ups and downs, but it's been so encouraging to see the progress from day one and also to have three of my best friends alongside me training for this as well.  Throughout the training process, I have been searching for the perfect verse that would fill me with encouragement on the day of the race.  The other morning, while doing my quiet time on the porch of our beach house for fall break, I found it.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the found and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Now I know this seems like the most cliche race verse I could have picked, but bear with me, I promise I didn't just feel led to this one because it has the words run and race in it.  There is so much power found in these verses for so many reasons.  My life is a perfect picture of a race, a half-marathon you could say.  When running a race, having trained and prepared, why would you ever give up? Give up and go back to where you started... Give up because the prize at the end is not worth the pain and struggles of running the race... Give up because there is too much pressure... Give up because I would rather be sitting on my couch watching reruns of One Tree Hill than put in the effort throughout the training...  How much this race, that will actually become a reality, relates to life itself is insane.  

Being a Christian and living a Christian life is not easy.  But this verse does not say, "since we are surround by such a great cloud of failures."  No, it describes them as "such a great cloud of witnesses" aka people who have already been through the struggles and the pain we are facing cheering us on knowing that, we too, can get through it and reach the finish line.  In this race of the Christian life, there will be struggles, there will be pain and honestly there will be times when throwing in the towel and giving up everything seems like the best idea ever.  But then look at the finish line, and you will something so much better.  Jesus and a life of eternity with Him. 

And how do you think Jesus got there?  Well he obviously could have just planted Himself right at the finish line, skipping all the trials that us humans have to face, because He is that powerful.  But Jesus didn't take the easy way out. Verse 2 says that "Jesus...who for  the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame..."  Maybe you missed that word that is so perfectly placed in there, but is says for the joy that was set before Him.  Jesus endured the beating, the mockery and most importantly, the cross, because of the joy that it brings Him to have us live our lives all for His glory and have the opportunity to spend eternity with Him.  Now if that does not get you pumped up, I don't know what will.  

Thinking of the struggles that I have to face and comparing them to all the Jesus went through is quite humbling.  So in running this race called life, I am called to lay aside every weight and sin that is trying to pull me down and run towards Jesus.  And not just a casual jog or a high speed power walk that some like to call running.  Hebrews says to "run with endurance" towards Jesus.  I like to think of this as busting out your inner Usain Bolt and running with all the strength you have.  We can look to dictionary.com for an even better definition of endurance.

Endurance: the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions

As made evident by this definition, running with endurance is not necessarily going to be easy.  But it is what we as Christians are called to do, and therefore the Lord will fill us with the strength to do so.  This means we should not get weighed down by how hard, uncomfortable or confusing life may get and know that the finish line will make all of the struggles so worth it.  If you read further down in Hebrews 12, verse 4 says, "in your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."  Jesus shed His blood so that we would never have to.  He shed His blood for every single sin we have and will ever commit.  That is the whole point of the cross.  Jesus knows we are going to fall short, sin and make mistakes, but that is the exact reason He went to the cross.  We never have to shed blood for our fallness because Jesus already did that.  All He requires of us is to run whole-heartedly towards Him, not getting weighed down in our daily struggles, knowing that the finish line is the prize of eternity with Him.  Knowing the story of what Jesus suffered through in order for us to have salvation should give us plenty adrenaline to get through any trials we may face.