Sprinting Out Of The Gate

The Christian life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon at a sprinter’s pace.

What does this mean? It means we run as fast as we can throughout our entire life. We don’t stop for a break, we don’t slow down or take it easy. We run. We run hard and fast for the prize that is set before us. Through the pitfalls and hardships, we run. Through the pain and suffering, we run. Through the good times and blessings, we run. The circumstances do not change the fact that in all weather and situations, we run. Christ is the prize and He is worth all the energy.

So how is it a marathon at a sprinters pace? Normally, if a marathon runner ran as fast as they could out of the gate they would be in no shape to finish. Yet we as Christians need to do this. We need to run as fast as we can for the entirety of our lives. This looks like not allowing ourselves to become complacent in our Christianity. We should never be content with floating through this life in ease. We should never simply turn on the auto-pilot and allow things to simply “happen.” All of our life has a purpose and we don’t have enough time to just take things easy.

I confess there are times I want to do this. There are times I don’t want to read my Bible, or evangelize, or act like a Christian. There are times I don’t want to fight against the old man living inside of me. I allow myself to become more important than Christ. I forget that I’m supposed to pick this cross of death up daily and live my life for the one that gave His for me. With all Christ has done for me, how dare I think for a second that I can simply float through this life without doing the hard things. Denying myself the lusts of the flesh, the pride of life and enticing glory of this world. These things stand in between me and my Christ. My sin is rooted deep and I need to be in a constant battle against my flesh. It doesn’t want Jesus. It doesn’t want me to have Him.

So what do I do? How do I keep running when my flesh wants me to sit in comfort and become complacent? It’s simple. Put. The. Flesh. To. The. Death. Beat it, burn it, rip it to pieces. Destroy it. Beat your old man into submission without mercy. Realize it stands between you and Christ. Rip out the deep rooted sins in your life. Tear down the high places of sin. Make war with your old nature and do not rest until it lays in a bloodied heap at your feet. Let your sin anger you. Hate it. It’s your enemy and it taunts you. Will you be content with allowing it to do that? I don’t want to be. I don’t want to be enticed by the pleasure of sin. I don’t want to believe that I can simply do what I want in this life. I will not believe the damned lies of Satan as he tempts me with his wares and goods. I will not rest until my flesh is dead. I will run hard and run fast.

I can’t do this in and of myself. Christ gives us victory over our sin. We are not bound by it. We are not overcome by it. He conquered it on the cross and gives you the ability to fight against it and win. Don’t allow your sin and complacency to make you blind. Let your sin anger you. It’s your enemy. Christ’s sacrifice gives you the victory over your flesh. Romans 8:37 says,

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

You now have the freedom to live and run for the glory of God. You can breath the free air of salvation and run fast. Christ is there with us and will be with us through the finish line. So my friend, put your flesh to the death. Make Christ what you love most. Run this marathon fast and hard. We get to see Jesus at the end. There is no prize greater than that.

“To live is Christ and to die is gain.” - Apostle Paul