Believers are called upon to run the race.

There are several factors that go into this racing business which must be combined in order for us to have success.

Here, at the starting line, though most of us are well along the course, or at least we hope so. Which direction are we facing? Do we know the directions or signs along the course so that we will not get lost? So one of the ingredients to a successful race must be either knowledge of the course itself or knowledge pertaining to reading signs along the way.

A second item would be that of persistence. Staying power! One might have knowledge of the route, but gets tired, burnt out or distracted. The race is put on the back burner, thus is never finished.

Conversely, one may have a great deal of persistence, zeal, energy and a lot of other good things, yet if one mis-reads the signs along the way or is on a course set from misinformation he will not run the race either. He will have run his own race, rather than the official one.

While it is possible to run this race alone, from a certain perspective that is the only way possible, one may be encouraged if other are also running the race, not as competitors but as fellows pilgrims, all heading for the same goal. Here there are two parts to racing with another: being able to be encouraged by another and being able to encourage another.

May the Lord give us love for him, so that we will desire to run towards him all of our life. May the Lord give us a love for his word, that we run the course approved of our God. May the Lord grant that we receive the prize.

Amen.