Just Stay In The Race!!!

John Clardy

 

1Corinthians 9:24  KJV         Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

 

The following story is told about the noted director of biblical epics, Cecil B. DeMille. When they began working on the movie Ben Hur, DeMille talked to Charlton Heston--the star of the      movie--about the all-important chariot race at the end. He decided Heston should actually learn to drive the chariot himself, rather than just using a stunt double. Heston agreed to take chariot-driving lessons to make the movie as authentic as possible.

 

Learning to drive a chariot with horses four abreast, however, was no small matter. After extensive work and days of practice, Heston returned to the movie set and reported to DeMille.

 

"I think I can drive the chariot all right, Cecil," said Heston, "but I'm not at all sure I can actually win the race."

 

Smiling slightly, DeMille said, "Heston, you just stay in the race, and I'll make sure you win."

 

That story brings encourages me tremendously because I see in it a great illustration of the spiritual race which we are all running as Christians. Maybe you have had those days when you have tried your best to run the race but it doesn’t seem that your best is good enough. I know that there have been days when it seemed like I struggled to even stay in the race, let alone win. 

 

The thought of having to win the race seems a little unsettling to us until we realize that God says the same thing to us that Cecil DeMille said to Charlton Heston: "You just stay in the race and I'll make sure you win."

 

The world rewards those that come in first.  There is a huge disparity between the prize and prestige of the winner and the runners-up, and there is no recognition for those that finishes near the end or are last.

 

God however operates and rewards differently than the way the world does.  Our scripture text today says that all we must do is to run and we will obtain. Everyone that stays in this race is a winner.

 

In Matthew 10:22, Jesus said that the one that endures until the end will be saved. You don’t have to be in the lead.  You don’t have to be passing everyone up in a cloud of dust.  All you have to do as a Christian is to stay in the race!  “So run, that ye may obtain.”

 

You may be facing some discouraging things in your life.  You may be struggling physically with a disease or condition in your body. You may be having financial difficulties.  Maybe your marriage is under attack.  Maybe your children are disrespectful and disobedient. Maybe you feel like everyone is passing you by.  Let me encourage you today to never quit, and never give up. Just keep on keeping on, if you will just stay in the race, God will make sure that you "win."

 

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-25).