Each week we feature a devotional, book review or testimony ~ a “Devotional Spotlight”, written by a woman in our ministry. We hope you are blessed in reading Tammy’s devotional!
“Run, Forrest, Run!
Most of you may remember seeing “Forrest Gump.” It was a rather outrageous movie about a mentally challenged young man who overcomes all sorts of obstacles. His character was so endearing because no matter how corrupt the world was around him, he seemed to maintain his innocence.
Perhaps you remember that scene in the beginning of the movie where a young Forrest was walking with his friend Jennie and suddenly three boys on bicycles show up. They started taunting and teasing Forrest, who was wearing braces on his legs. Jennie could see her friend was about to become easy prey. So she called out to him, “Run, Forrest, run!”
I’m thankful to have never known what it’s like to wear leg braces. And even though I’ve never been particularly fast, I can run…if I have to.
This year I decided I was going to do just that. I entered the “Polar Bear Race”. It’s a 5K race that our church holds every year in order to raise money to help our kids go on choir tour. I was determined that at the very least I was going to jog the whole way… no walking! That was my goal. So, a month before the race I started jogging on a treadmill in order to build up stamina to get through the race.
Finally the day arrived. What an experience! There were over a thousand runners that Saturday morning. Once given the signal to start, the seasoned runners took off ahead of everyone else. Others lagged behind as they jogged or walked. I made my way around the slower participants and worked to find an opening. I wasn’t very fast but I was persistent.
Throughout the race God spoke to me. So many Biblical truths were coming to life as I ran. I could just hear Paul saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (1Timothy 4:7) Oh, how I wanted to finish that race! But even more importantly, I want to finish the spiritual “race that [is] marked out before [me]”. (Hebrews 12:1)
Paul used running as an analogy to the Christian life in many of his letters, and now I can see why. He understood what was at stake. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
He knew that life could be difficult, that there would be struggles, heartaches, and temptations along the way. But he also knew that if we remained steadfast in our faith, we would be the recipients of a prize that would never fade – one that would last forever. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” Paul encourages us, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1Corinthians 9:24-27)
Many of the runners in the Polar Bear Race were awarded prizes. They received trophies for being the fastest in their age group. And even though I didn’t win a prize that day, I know from past experiences how good it feels to work hard for something and to be recognized for it.
Paul tells us that what we accomplish spiritually will have greater meaning and value to us than any award we receive on earth. James echoes this sentiment when he proclaims, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) Peter calls our prize the “crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4) And Jesus referred to it as the “victor’s crown” in Revelation 2:10.
This prize is not some object we will wear on our heads like a beauty queen or an athlete of long ago. But as children of the King, it does reflect royalty! This prize bestows on us righteousness and everlasting life. It allows us to one day behold the glory of the Lord – to see Him face to face – and it represents the victory we possess through Jesus Christ!
But life can get awfully hard at times. We grow “weary in doing good” (Galatians 6:9) and become tempted to give in to our fleshly desires. Certainly, I have struggled with this over the years. And on the day of the race, I definitely struggled with temptation as well. As more and more of the runners started to slow down, I can’t tell you how tempted I was to do the same! The longer I ran, the more difficult it became. Oh, how I wanted to give in to my weariness and give up on running! But then I’d look at those ahead of me instead of the ones dropping back, and I was determined to keep going.
Similarly, the writer of Hebrews tells us that when we face spiritual struggles, we’re to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)
That reminds me of poor old Forrest. Boy, did he face opposition with those boys coming after him in hot pursuit. His friend Jennie kept yelling, “Run, Forrest, run!” but it seemed like there was no way he was going to escape that rowdy bunch.
Forrest, hindered by his leg braces, took off as fast as he could. The bullies got on their bikes and started to chase him. Forrest struggled. His running was awkward as his braces prohibited his knees from bending. But then something amazing happened. As Forrest began to run, the braces broke and fell off his legs! Once he was unencumbered, he was able to out-run the kids on their bikes! It was incredible how fast he could run! It was … Hollywood.
Yet, what a picture of our own spiritual despair and ability to overcome! How easy it is to get tangled up in sin and strongholds. They bind us and prohibit us from fleeing from the very thing that could bring us great harm. That’s why the writer of Hebrews tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
I was so impressed how the more “professional” runners of the Polar Bear race dressed. Even with the cooler temperatures of the January morning, they didn’t wear jackets or any extraneous clothing that would slow them down.
As children of the King, what extraneous issues cause us to grow weary? Fear? Unforgiveness? Worry? What are we clinging to that hinders us? What sin entangles us to the point that we find it difficult to flee from the enemy? Jesus would love to break the chains that have you bound. Repent, turn away, and start running! Then trust Him to break off those “braces” of sin!
Initially, our ability to run away from sin may seem difficult and awkward, just like when Forrest was still bound by his braces. Thankfully, we don’t flee by our own strength, but with the power of the Holy Spirit. We must persist and not grow weary in staying the course. Easier said than done, you say? I understand – I’m a sojourner with you. But we’re not alone in our battle and the rewards are so worth the fight!
I was on the last leg of the race. However, my body wasn’t used to this kind of treatment and I was getting tired! Just about the time I felt like I couldn’t keep up the pace, I looked, and there to my right, lining the streets, were men, women, boys and girls, all yelling, “Come on!” “You can do it!” “You’re doing great!” “Keep it up!” Oh, how I needed that! Their shouts of encouragement kept me going and gave me the desire to persevere and not give up.
In the same way, we are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1) This “cloud of witnesses” represents those who have gone before us. They have fought “the good fight of faith.” They’ve taken “hold of the eternal life.” (1Timothy 6:12) And now they’re encouraging us to do the same!
You may wonder, hmmm… I don’t hear anything. How am I supposed to be encouraged by those who have gone before me? You can “hear” them cheering you on through their stories in God’s Word.
Abraham encourages us to walk obediently, even when God’s instructions may not make sense to us. Moses cries out for us to walk humbly before God, spend time in His presence, and to love and pray for those who are difficult. David cheers us on to be victorious over the enemy, to worship God and give Him praise. Elisha calls out to us, “Don’t be afraid, He who is with you is mightier than your enemy!” (2 Kings 6:16) Isaiah proclaims that God is holy and for us to be willing to go forth and speak His word. (Isaiah 6:1-8) Habakkuk exclaims we’re to rejoice in the Lord, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) And Zephaniah reminds us that we are His delight and He is singing over us even now! (Zephaniah 3:17)
But most importantly, Jesus is our greatest cheerleader. He reminds us, “Behold, I am coming soon!” (Rev. 22:12) “Come!”… “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17)
The crowd cheered us on and I finished the race. It took me 30 minutes, but I never walked – I jogged the whole way. I went home happy knowing I had accomplished my goal. And one day I’ll go to my heavenly home happy, knowing I ran the race and received the prize!
So, run sisters, run! Let’s run with perseverance. Let’s run fixing our eyes on Jesus! Let’s run unencumbered by sin. Let’s run knowing we’re going to win the prize! And if we do, we can proclaim as Paul did, “…my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)
