Christ at the Finish Line

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. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

My daughter recently started running and training for her first half marathon. At first, she struggled to find the right shoes. Despite trying several pairs, the pain persisted. After consulting with a professional, the cause of her pain was identified. The professional recommended the appropriate footwear which, thankfully, alleviated her discomfort. 

As I reflected on her experience, I remembered the apostle Paul's words about running with perseverance. My daughter never allowed the pain to overwhelm her; instead, she pressed on. She took the necessary measures to address the obstacle, allowing her to join her fellow runners. 

Her journey was not without hurdles; one of which was a steep financial cost. Still, she chose to stay the course because of the prize that lay ahead. She wanted to compete and finish well, and she did! Her determination to accomplish her goal made me realize just how different I am from her.

Too often, I have coddled fear, unforgiveness, and apathy. My unwillingness to forgive has impeded my spiritual progress. I've allowed fear to sweep over me when I should have moved forward, and apathy has lingered with me like an uninvited guest.

Paul makes a distinction between hindrances and sins. Sins are easily identifiable, which helps us avoid situations leading to compromise. Hindrances, however, are not as easily recognized, so we often misclassify them. For some of us, what appears to be procrastination may be a veneer for laziness. I know this well, because I still struggle with it. 

We can mislabel our feelings, too. For example, we may justify our worrying as "just being cautious." Each hindrance prevents us from moving forward by faith. 

My daughter’s experience made me question my inability to persevere and reflect on some reasons behind many of my spiritual stalls. One reason in particular stood out: fear. I realized that paralyzing fear lay hidden under the cover of busyness. I feared not being good enough, facing criticism and, worst of all, failing. This pattern had become a significant obstacle to my spiritual growth, causing me to avoid answering God's call.

Do you ever feel this way? If so, there's only one remedy for our condition: focusing on Christ. If you've struggled as I have, let's hold on to the words of the Apostle Paul and let go of everything that prevents us from fulfilling our high calling. 

Together, we can run unhindered, knowing Christ and a great cloud of witnesses awaits us at the finish line. As we seek to finish our course well, whatever obstacles or pain we have to endure will be worth it all in the end.