This past weekend a man from our church ran in the USU triathlon.  As we talked the day before we observed something we had in common: it is far easier to endure training when we are training for a race.  Without a goal it is difficult to find the motivation to invest the time and pain necessary for training.

I find that this truth applies to our motivation in most of the things we do.  Unless we understand the goal we hope to attain, we are reluctant to endure trials.   Paul challenges the church this way, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Our prize isn’t the praises of men or a trophy but the eternal prize that is ours through faith.

It is this goal that allows us to walk by faith.  Even when we can’t see the finish line, we know what lies ahead and strive for the goal.  We don’t enter a race just to start, we don’t enter to just run, we enter to finish.  Paul applies this image of claiming this eternal prize to help us see how we are to run, “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.   No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)

Desiring to run well, how do we begin?  Hebrews 12 offers us an answer, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1, 2)

In sports people take this image quite literally.  In the locker room before a swim meet you will see men shaving their legs in hopes of trimming their times.  Bicycles, running shoes even golf clubs are either made lighter or have their weights reconfigured to give them the competitor the maximum advantage.  This serves as a spiritual metaphor of stripping off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.

The text also offers a clue for success – keep our vision fixed on the goal.  We may be familiar with the blinders that racehorses wear.  Racehorse trainers use blinders to keep the horse focused on what is in front of them, encouraging them to pay attention to the race rather than distractions, such as crowds and other horses. In the same way, we would be wise to wear blinders to not be distracted by the “sin that so easily entangles.”

How are we entangled by sin, taking our eyes off of our goal?  Suppose we desire to control our anger while driving, or to be patience with our children or spouse.  But then something happens, something completely unrelated that causes me to fall short of my goal.  Maybe it was an argument with someone before I got in the car that resulted in my angry outburst at another driver, or possibly a migraine or backache that resulted in my lack of patience.  If I were blinded to these distractions, to not allow them to affect my day, then I can better fulfill my goals.

We must realize that sin is a choice; one event does not need to influence another.  My impatience or anger is not excused, or even understandable, because I am having a bad day.  We are quick to cite reasons for our sin without realizing that we are without excuse.  Our responses to the bumps in life are indeed OURS.  No one can make me angry – it is always my choice. 

If I want to finish the race well, I must live a life that honors Christ in all that I do – How can I do this?  Quite simply according to Hebrews 12 – by fixing “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”  If we don’t know how this is to be done remember that Christ is our example – He is the founder and perfecter of our faith.  We can finish the race by fixing our eyes on Jesus our hope.