Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus: The Key to Running Life's Race

Life is like long distance running, it’s not about speed, but about endurance. This past summer I decided to start training for long distance running.

Thankfully, the Lord placed a neighbor in my life who was willing to train and run with me. Running with him was always more enjoyable than running alone.

When I felt weak, and so weary that I felt I couldn’t make it home, he was my encourager, cheering me on.

When we would run down a busy road, every time a car came, he would run in front of me, acting as my shield and protecting me from harm’s way.

Just like running, life is tough. Sometimes we will feel weary and worn out, and other times we will be on the top of the world.

Jesus -Running Partner:

Whether we’re celebrating our biggest win, or mourning our greatest loss, we need Jesus to be our “running” partner in all of life. He is our protector and shield when harm comes our way, and He is our greatest encourager.

Hebrews 12: 1-2 says “…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” (ESV) To run hand in hand with Jesus, we must cast off every sin.

Halleluiah and amen to that! Sin is a heavy weight. When we lay it down at the feet of Jesus, we can fully embrace our identity in Christ and run the race of life freely.

Transfixed on Christ:

 We can fix our eyes upon Jesus because He is the founder and perfecter of our faith. He set the ultimate example for us by enduring the cross and shame, and He is sitting in heaven at the right hand of God (Heb. 12:2c). We need to fix our eyes on Jesus, because life is challenging.

We can begin to fix our eyes on Him by rehearsing his attributes, praying throughout our day, and saturating ourselves in his word. By doing these things, through the power of the Holy Spirit, our eyes can be transfixed on Christ.

Becoming Better Runners through discipline:

 When I’m running, my body is not happy with me. I feel as if I’m being tightly squeezed, and it’s not enjoyable. But as I endure this pain, I become a better and stronger runner.

Sometimes in life when we’re struggling with sin, we feel as if we’re being squeezed, this is discipline of the Lord (Heb. 12:5).  

However, we’re not to feel weary when this occurs, remember God disciplines us because He loves us.

Hebrews 12:6-7, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves… It is for discipline that you have to endure.” (ESV) This discipline grows us closer to Christ, and we will be stronger on the other side of it.

Resting in Christ:

 On our own, we will never be able to run the race well. It is by God’s strength that we are more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37).

The only way we will be able to get to the end of our lives and say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (1 Tim. 4:7)” (ESV) is by resting in Christ and relying on Him.

Remembering Where Our Hope Is Found:

 People will call us crazy for running the race for Jesus, some will even despise us. Thankfully, Jesus understands this, even His own family thought He was out of his mind. Jesus knew where to find His hope, and His identity was secure.

Because of what He did for us on the cross, our identity is found in Christ and our hope is found in Him. Every day, we are being sanctified and receiving the prize of being with Jesus and running the race with Him.

But one day, we will receive the ultimate prize for our race, and that prize is being in the physical presence of our savior, King Jesus, forever.