I love running and have run many different races in my life. The Comrades 90km race has probably been the most memorable race of my life. No matter what race you run you get to a point in the race where it becomes very tough and you have to tell your body to endure and ignore the pain. You know that there is a finish line and you will get there.
In the Comrades marathon, the real pain comes at about the 60km mark. No human can physically run further than 60 km. From 60 km your mind takes over. Your legs are saying no further. Your mind receives the signal and tells your legs they have no option they must place each foot in front of the other no matter what. The people supporting the runners on the side of the road are telling you, “Not so far now”. They are lying because you still have 30 km to go and the hill Polly Shortts.
Polly Shortts is a steep hill named after a farmer who lived nearby, when it had rained and the hill was muddy and difficult to get over, he would help people to pass over the hill with their vehicles. The hill is 7km from the end and 2km long. It is very difficult for most runners, especially the more casual runners. Many have to walk up Pollies.
When I was 30 years old, I ran the Comrades. Wally Hayward was 80 years old when he ran his last Comrades. During his life, he had won the Comrades five times. While I was walking up Polly Shortts from one lamp post to another, I heard Wally shuffling up behind me. He past me and then I decided I will not let him be in front of me. So, with great effort, I shuffled past him to the next lamp post. For the full two km, this was how I kept going up Pollies. Wally crossed the finish line a few minutes in front of me as the oldest runner ever to complete Comrades. The main thing is, I finished and got the medal.
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We all getting older they say.
They say there are two things a man can be certain of that is taxes and death.
Although Paul had a revelation of life and he ran the race to attain perfection he continued to face death in his ministry. His life purpose was to preach Christ no matter the physical difficulties he had to face. He had a deep concern for all the churches. He went through great pain and even death in his life.
2 Corinthians 11:22-29 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Although the disciples, others, and a prophet warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem because there he would die. Paul ignored pleadings and continued to his known destination
Acts 21:1-14 After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on our left we sailed to Syria and put in at Tyre, since that was where the ship was to discharge her cargo. We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them for a week. They felt led by the Spirit, again and again, to warn Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. But when our time was up, we left there and continued our journey. They all came out to see us off, bringing their wives and children with them, accompanying us till we were outside the city. Then kneeling on the beach, we prayed and said goodbye to each other. Then we went aboard the ship while the disciples went back home. We sailed away from Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers there and stayed with them for just one day. On the following day, we left and proceeded to Caesarea and there we went to stay at the house of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven deacons. He had four unmarried daughters, all of whom spoke by the Spirit of God. During our stay there of several days a prophet by the name of Agabus came down from Judea. When he came to see us, he took Paul’s girdle and used it to tie his own hands and feet together, saying, “The Holy Spirit says this: the man to whom this girdle belongs will be bound like this by the Jews in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles!”
When we heard him say this, we and the people there begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered us, “What do you mean by unnerving me with all your tears? I am perfectly prepared not only to be bound but to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Since he could not be dissuaded all we could do was to say, “May the Lord’s will be done,” and hold our tongues.
Each one of us has a dream or a revelation or a word from God. What is it you believe God wants you to do in your life? Do you know what you need to accomplish in your life? What is the race you are running?
Paul was determined to tell us what we need to attain. The revelation was written in his letters. Maybe the early church was not yet ready but I believe we are closer to the fulfillment of the revelation Paul received than ever.
Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
What is corruption? God told Adam if you eat from this tree, you will surely die. Genesis
2:17 We know what Adam did and the consequence. The whole of creation was made subject to corruption, and death.
Then Paul wrote
1 Corinthians 15:53-54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Romans 5:17-18 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
We are unable to earn or work for the gift of life, it is a gift from God. Our inheritance.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
We must be changed to inherit. You cannot receive it from flesh and blood. Flesh and blood have no power to give the kingdom of God to you. In like manner, the realm of corruption cannot give incorruption to you.
We must be changed, spirit, soul, and body!
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The kingdom of God is the realm of incorruption and immortality! The only way we can experience the fullness of the kingdom of God with our whole being is for us to be changed.
1 Peter 1:22-23 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
By faith and believing the word of God, we can begin to possess our inheritance. The fullness of God can only be experienced by being changed into the incorruptible life of Christ.
If we are to rule and reign with Christ We must be changed into His image and likeness.
Then Paul says, “But I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me”.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that strives for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
We are mortal because we are corruptible, but we are not corruptible because we are mortal. In physical terms the aging process is corruption.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This is the issue; we need to renew our minds. The world has certain expectations for certain ages. We cannot agree with the world. When you are 60 years old you must start to battle to get out of bed and have knee pains. Go on pension and wait to die. That is conforming to the world.
What is God saying to you?
Psalm 103:2-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Lay hold of the incorruptible seed. Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The upward call is your purpose. It is through your life on earth to give glory to Him. Your salvation and health are your inheritance.
But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
Your past does not determine your future. Christ is your life. Do not give up at all. He is your future, press on take hold of all He has taken hold for you.
Life
Amen
