Upheld In The Race

The Race

My son, Jeff, participated in a triathlon race over the Labor Day weekend. He came from the west side of the state and I from the east side to spend the night before the race with Y and Lloyd in Tri-Cities (my niece and nephew). We had a great time catching up on all our news.

For those who don’t know, this competition includes a swim race, bike race, and run race all in one big contest. The participant sprints from one event to the other in succession—to get the best complete time at the end.

The night before the race, Y and Lloyd kindly accommodated Jeff by driving the route of the bike race section so Jeff could prepare himself for the next day. To see it on paper is vastly different than seeing it for real.

Jeff had a great race time at the end. He had conditioned his body for all three events, practiced, and kept his eye on his goal.

Observing or Participating

While watching a triathlon is fun (we had a blast!), watching life go by is not. We are made to participate. Like Jeff, the triathlon athlete, we are made to train for our race.

Condition our bodies and souls in preparation for each day

Practice the skills God has given us

Accomplish the tasks assigned to us

Keep our eyes on our goals

To please God with how we live out our daily lives

Considering Eternity

Finally, the ultimate goal is to live with God in eternity. This is a place He has prepared ahead of time for those who have accepted the terms of the race set before them.

Are we running? Are we participating? Are we doing all we can to be ready for this race? The ultimate prize is before us – let’s keep our eyes on it.

Always consider eternity – are we?

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” I Corinthians 9:24.