running

Seeing the Light

May 20, 2013 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (NIV) Acts 9:18-20

Paul’s conversion is due to the personal appearance of the risen Christ, who appeared as literally as He did when He appeared to the disciples for 40 days before He ascended to Heaven. It is not a mere vision. It is not a figment of Paul’s imagination. It is not a dream, but a manifestation of the risen Lord. It radically changed his life.

After interacting with Jesus Christ, Paul is literally blinded by the experience. From the moment that Paul is blinded on the Damascus road, he lives in total obedience to the One whom he had opposed. It is a total conversion – a conversion of the will, intellect, and emotion, that changed the purpose and direction of Paul’s life and activities.

Paul was a man who was running hard in a direction he was convinced was right, but Christ “laid hold of” him, turned him completely around, and set him off in the opposite direction. Are you running hard in a certain direction utterly convinced that it’s right? You may say: “I’m not running.” Well what’s the most important thing or person in your life? That’s what you’re chasing. Sometimes we run so fast, so focused, it takes a Damascus road experience like Paul’s, to get our attention.

Jesus tapped Paul on the shoulder and he turned to follow Christ. When has Jesus tapped you on the shoulder? Have you turned around?

The Finish Line

August 14, 2012 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV) Hebrews 12:1-3

Once the author of Hebrews tells us how to run, he turns our focus to the finish line. We are to focus on the Finisher, Jesus. Why do we fix our focus on Him? Because He is the author and perfecter of our faith. The Author – the Originator, the Founder, the Leader, the First, the Beginning. He is the initiator of our faith. And He is the Perfecter – the Finisher, the One who reached the goal. He started it all and He finished His task. Jesus endured.

Where was Christ’s focus? It was on His goal: first the cross, then the throne. The result was joy. Joy in knowing He was returning to His Father. Joy in defeating sin and death once and for all. Joy in knowing that someday we would live in eternity with Him!

We are told to consider Him, consider Jesus. Think about Him, meditate about Him, learn about Him, and seek after Him. So that when you grow weary, when you are tempted to lose heart and when you are exhausted in the middle of the race, you can focus on the finish when you meet Him face to face! The exhilaration will be greater than entering the Olympic stadium at the end of the marathon. . .the roar of the crowd will be deafening. . .there will be cheering and applause as Heaven expresses its approval.

So where is your focus? Fix your eyes on Jesus and race with long obedience in the same direction. . .until you reach the end. . .taking one step after another. . .running the race for an audience of One, Jesus!

Throw It Off!

August 13, 2012 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

To win the race it takes more than just running with endurance. The author of Hebrews writes that we are to throw off everything that hinders us. We are to get rid of all encumbrances and entanglements. An encumbrance is excess weight for the runner. The Greek custom was to strip off clothes to run unencumbered. They wanted to get rid of anything that hindered their progress.

We are also instructed to throw off every entanglement, anything hindering or preventing progress toward spiritual maturity. Specifically we are to “throw off” the sin that entangles us. Notice that this is not something God does, this is what we do daily. For us, in our race of faith, encumbrances could be procrastination, lack of mental discipline, impatience, not forgiving others, indifferent attitudes, jealousy, gossip, selfish ambition, or any sin that God brings to your mind.

It is Christ’s death on the cross that enables us to come to Him, confess our sins, and claim forgiveness. A look back with acknowledgment of what Christ has done for you will motivate you in your forward progress in your own race of faith. Looking back to the Cross is the motivation to keep looking to the future…to run with endurance.

The Race

August 11, 2012 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

The analogy of running the race is used in many places throughout the New Testament. The people of that day understood the analogy. Races were conducted on days of national festivity. The emperor was in regal attire sitting within his purple curtained booth. There was row upon row reaching upward of a vast multitude of spectators. Every eye was fixed on the runners who were straining every muscle. The aim of athletes was nothing short of winning. To win the race demanded stamina, perseverance, dedication, and discipline. The runners were willing to give up everything to win the gold. Champions received the adulation and unlimited benefits from his city.

The Christian life is not a short sprint, but rather like a marathon for a runner. It is hard work. The word for race in the Greek is “agon.” It is the root word that we get our word “agony.” The race is an agonizing, tough marathon…26 miles, 385 yards.

The author of Hebrews tells you to run with perseverance the course marked out for you. Your own unique course planned out in advance by God for you. It is wonderfully reassuring that we only have to run our course. We do not have to run someone else’s race, only our own.

Paul writes:

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

As you run, don’t look around, and don’t look back. Look straight ahead so that you stay on the right course. Keep your FOCUS! After all, you will have enough to handle on your own course!

The Race Is On!

August 10, 2012 By Marji "Mike" Kruger

Who are these witnesses? They are our encouragers, those who have gone before us who have had an experiential knowledge of the faith. Their type of faith honors God. They are the great men and women of faith that are written about in Hebrews 11. These are the great heroes of the past that say to us today, “I made it, you can too.”

Men like . . .

Noah, who warned the people that God’s judgment was coming. In holy fear he built an ark to save his family. Noah would say, “Be bold, speak the Truth in love.”

Abraham, who was called to go to a place that he would later receive as his inheritance. He obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going! Abraham would say, “Trust God even when you can not see the way.” Or he would tell us “Believe God will do the impossible.” Abraham should know. God enabled him to become a father at 100 years old.

Joseph, who when circumstances did not look like they would ever get better, would tell us, “Believe God will work all things out for His purposes.”

Moses would tell us when we are tired and weary, “Persevere. Look to God. Look ahead to His promises.”

Joshua was confronted with leading a people in a way that defied all logic. Joshua would say, “God is true to His Word. Trust Him and watch Him work in incredible ways.”

Hebrews 11 tells us about men and women who were all commended for their faith. Now they have been “ushered” off the track and into the stands, figuratively cheering you and me on. Their stories encourage us. In this case, they have already received their “trophy.” They have finished the race. These great men and women of the faith are the spectators so to speak.

Now it is our turn to carry on the tradition of enduring faith. Christianity is not a spectator sport. It is the active participants who receive the trophy, not the spectators. How are you running the race?

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