How would you fill in the blank?

Fill in the following blank: “Race for the ____.”

Most people would probably fill the blank with the word “cure.” “Race for the cure” is just one name of many popular walks, runs, rides and other such “races” held throughout the country to raise money for a host of charities that support research to find cures for a variety of diseases.

In fact, as I write this I’m sitting by a wall on which is a bulletin board with the following notices posted on it: A 7 day, 545-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles bike ride to raise money for a cure for AIDS; the “Seize the day … and take a stroll” walk for the Epilepsy Foundation; and a pink poster promoting the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

All of these charitable events are worthy causes, as each strive to raise awareness and funds for research to help bring an end to debilitating and deadly diseases.

In many churches you will find Christians who spend a great deal of time annually training to walk, run, cycle, swim, or do whatever to be part of these charitable activities. They spend a lot of time training, a lot of time actually competing or participating, and a lot of money supporting these efforts every year.

However, there is another race that gets far less attention, far less effort, far less support, and far less funding.

The race against sin.

Sin is the single killer which every human being on earth faces, and for which there is a “cure.” Yet how much time, attention, training, participation, promotion, recruitment, and money do we spend on this race? This is the one race which all of us must finish well!

The writer of Hebrews talks about the race for life this way, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith …” (Hebrews12:1-2b).

Paul writes quite vigorously about this subject in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

What a powerful description from Paul! This great apostle, a man many of us would be happy to emulate regarding our faith, says that he takes this race so seriously he disciplines himself like an athlete does in order to win the race, thinking that if he doesn’t he may be disqualified. Sobering words to reflect on!

How seriously are you taking this race against sin? What are you doing to help others defeat it? How are you disciplining yourself to cross the finish line as the winner?

Which race are you running?

Scotty