1 Corinthians 9:24–27 — “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

I want you to say that to yourself: “I am a distance runner and a finisher.” Why? If you are a child of God — you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, indwelt by the power of the Holy Spirit — you have been qualified to run in the Christian race.

Colossians 1:12 — “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.”

Ephesians 1:3–4 — “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

Colossians 1:21–22 — “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”

So you have been reconciled. You have been qualified. You have been predestined to be a distance runner and a finisher. By who? Who qualified you? The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Great I Am is the one who has qualified you.

For many years, we have to qualify to run in the race. In the New York City Marathon, you can get in through a lottery, where they pull your name. Or most people who live in the Tri-State can do something called a “9+1” — nine qualifying races, not just any nine races — and you volunteer once. Once you do that, you’re automatically qualified to run in the New York City Marathon.

So, like I said, we are qualified by God to be a distance runner. As a marathon runner, once you get qualified, there’s training to be done. There is a training process where we have to put in base mileage. This is where we build mileage over the months. To run 26.2 miles, you don’t just get up and do it. Some people may be able to — I’m not sure — but for us as runners, we have to put in over 500 miles just to run the 26.2.

In the Christian race, to which we are called, we are also called to put in spiritual base miles. What are these miles? We are familiar with them — these are our spiritual disciplines:

• Our daily prayer with the Lord
• Reading and meditating on the Word of God
• Memorizing Scripture
• Fasting
• Spending alone time with the Lord
• Serving and working in the Kingdom of God

These are things that nourish our body. These are things that build us up so we can go the distance. And in order for you and I — as sons and daughters, qualified to run in this Christian race — we have to put in discipline. We have to put in these miles. We have to spend time with the Word of God.

Ephesians 2:10 — “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

As a distance runner and a finisher, we must run with endurance and perseverance. Just like in our walk with the Lord.

Hebrews 12:2 — “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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We are called to run with endurance. And this endurance is to resist the enemy — because the Word of God says he comes against us. We have to be sober. We have to be vigilant, knowing that the enemy goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

James 4:7 — “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We have to renew our minds. We have to fight — because many times we don’t want to read the Word. But when we read the Word of God, our minds are renewed.

Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Just keep pushing. You may not be able to go at the pace you were going before — but the goal is to reach the finish line. And so it is with us in our spiritual life.

Sometimes we drop the baton and want to disqualify ourselves from the race. But no. Don’t disqualify yourself. You may not be running as fast as you used to run, but guess what? You’re still in the race. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Keep reading the Word of God. Maybe you used to read the Bible every day — now maybe it’s just once in a while— but at least you’re still reading. The Word of God is still getting into you. It’s still a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.

Jeremiah 29:11 — “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Do not compare. Run your own race.

2 Timothy 4:8 — “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

James 1:12 — “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

We run for an imperishable crown — and God will give it to us. We all want to hear our Lord say to each of us: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

So Father God, we thank You this morning. We thank You that each one of us on this line — You have called us. You have qualified us. You have set a course for us, God.

Some of the courses are going through valleys. Some are going up high mountains and slopes. But through it all — You said You will never leave us nor forsake us. With You, we can do all things.

So Father, we thank You that we are in this race. We are not on the sideline. We are running this race.

And we thank You, oh God, that You will renew our strength. You will cause us to mount up with wings as eagles. We will run and not be weary. We will walk and not faint.

In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.