In the last of our series ‘Running The Race’, we looked at the different stages in life (perhaps summarised best by Shakespeare’s words in ‘As You Like It’ about the seven ages of man) and how faith is essential to each stage. At every stage of life, the challenge is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, and to fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. (2 Cor 4:18)
If we have been blessed with a Christian upbringing, we have had a good start to life. Eternal life starts when we accept Jesus as our Saviour, and at whatever age this happens, we realise that faith and grace are essential to life. To start a race well means to be ready and focussed. Heb 12:1 urges us to ‘throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles’, and Jesus reminded us that we need to seek first God’s kingdom (Matt 6:33). It’s so easy to let anxiety and the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke God’s word and make it unfruitful. (Matt 13:22) To start well means to set our hearts on things above. (Col 3:1-2)
We need, though, to continue well. The Galatians came to faith ‘by means of the Spirit’ (Gal 3:2) but soon wanted to love by the ways they already knew, such as circumcision. Paul had to speak strongly to them (Gal 3:5, Gal 4:10-11) to remind them that faith is an ongoing part of the race. In the middle part of our lives, we may be tempted to rely on ourselves rather than God, but we need to keep on running. The things we learn in the mountain top experiences need to be lived out in the valleys as well. God will give us the strength we need to keep on running. (Is 40:29-31)
To win a race means to finish well. Paul knew this and commented on this in 2 Tim 4:6-8. We have to keep on running, even perhaps when age and infirmity make that difficult for us. Our times are in God’s hands (Ps 31:15), and we need to aim to retain physical health where possible (which will require self-discipline) and to continue with spiritual practices, including prayer, reading God’s word and having fellowship. It’s easy to focus on the negatives of old age, but we can grow in wisdom and spiritual strength even as outwardly, our energy wanes. God is able to keep us going!
