RUNNING OR STUMBLING: HOW WILL YOU FINISH?
GALATIANS 5:7-9
INTRODUCTION: In his writings, Paul often uses analogies from the Olympic Games to teach spiritual truths. He makes reference to Christians being like athletes in training, to shadow boxing, wrestling, and racers. The swift runner was the most highly esteemed out of all the athletes. For the races the athletes prepared themselves by a long course of discipline and exercise; and nothing was left undone that might contribute to secure their finishing well and obtaining the prize which would be conferred upon the successful runner. Whatever prize was conferred on the successful champions on the last day of the games, it was presented with great solemnity, pomp, congratulation, and rejoicing. It is said that "Everyone thronged to see and congratulate them; their relations, friends, and countrymen, shedding tears of tenderness and joy, lifted them on their shoulders to show them to the crowd, and held them up to the applauses of the whole assembly, who strewed handfuls of flowers over them." (Anachar iii, 448) Paul represents the Christian life as a race with each runner having an eye on finishing well and winning the prize of an incorruptible crown. Paul tells the Galatians that they started running the race well but they allowed someone or something to interfere with their running, deflecting them and causing them to stumble. In verse 7 we read, "You were running well. Who hindered you that you do not obey the truth?" The term used in this verse for hinder is “an Olympic expression, and signifies "coming across the course” while a person is running in it, in such a manner as to jostle, and throw him out of the way." As believers we are to run the race without allowing ourselves to be hindered by any obstructions and without giving out or fainting along the way. Realize that as Ron Owen states, "Though our personal acceptance by God is based on what Christ has done for us not our performance, He does evaluate and judge our offerings, either accepting or rejecting them." (Blackaby and Owens, Worship: Believers Experiencing God p 69) How we run does matter. Paul says in Acts 20 and 1 Corinthians 9 that he runs in such a manner so as not to stumble and to finish well. Are you running or stumbling? What can throw you off course or cause you to stumble? I believe there are at least three things that will hinder, check, or retard your ability to run the race and finish well: Lack of Compulsion, Lack of Concentration, and Lack of Consecration.
I. The Lack of Compulsion – running half heartedly with a divided allegiance.
A. The person who lacks compulsion or total commitment is the person who is not sold out and is therefore indecisive in their Christian life.
B. 1 Corinthians 9:25 And everyone who strives for the mastery is temperate in all things.
C. The candidate for the Olympic races was required to be ten months in training, and to practice in the gymnasium immediately before the games. They had to make a commitment that nothing was more important than running the race. They whole life was to be committed to making sure that they would run to the best of the ability. Today, the average Olympian trains at least four hours a day, 310 days a year for six years before succeeding.
D. Seeking to be the best, the runner pursued a course of entire temperate living. It related not only to indulgences unlawful in themselves, but to abstinence from many things that were regarded as "lawful," but which were believed to render the body weak.
E. Compulsion means I will put my whole heart into living the Christian life. I will be the best Christian I can be. I am sold out for Christ.
F. 2 Corinthians 5:14 The Love of Christ constrains (compels) us
G. Matthew 6:24 (MKJV) No one can serve two masters.
H. "Tryin’ to live in two worlds at one time, Holdin’ on to all the things That I call mine. Sayin’ one thing but really living two, it’s not just hard, It’s impossible to do. Lord, I want You to know that this double life is through, And everything, all of me I’m giving to You. I’m not divided in my heart anymore. I know it’s You, only You That I’m living for! And with my whole heart I’m gonna love You. And with my whole life I’m gonna live it for You. Take my heart, every secret part. I’m wholehearted in love with You." – Wholehearted, Carswell, Eddie / Wells, Oliver / Keesecker, Lynn,.© 1990 Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) / Causing Change Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Wello Music (Admin. by Copyright Management, Inc.) CCLI License No. 754427
I. Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they who keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
J. I sometimes get this question put to me, concerning certain worldly amusements, "May I do so-and-so?" I am very sorry whenever anyone asks me that question, because it shows that there is something wrong, or it would not be raised at all. If a person’s conscience lets him say, "Well, I can go to A," he will very soon go on to B, C, D, E, and through all the letters of the alphabet… C. H. Spurgeon
K. Psalms 73:25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
II. The Lack of Concentration – running half mindedly with a divided attention
A. Those who run half mindedly are those who have become preoccupied and have lost their focus.
B. Philippians 3:13-14 MKJV My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
C. One running to secure the prize would not stop to look behind him to see how much ground he had run over, or who of his competitors had fallen or lingered in the way. He would keep his eye steadily on the prize, and strain every nerve that he might obtain it. If his attention was diverted for a moment from that, it would hinder his flight, and might be the means of his losing the crown.
D. Luke 9:62 MKJV And Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
E. The song writer wrote, O how the world to evil allures me. O how my heart is tempted to sin.
F. 1 John 2:15-16 MKJV Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
G. Mark 8:36-37 MKJV For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
H. A Christian will accomplish nothing if he or she does not have a single great aim and purpose of soul.
I. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9, I do not run haphazardly; I do not exert myself for nothing; I know at what I aim, and I keep my eye fixed on the object; I have the goal and the crown in view. And therefore I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 9:6, 2:2)
J. There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at that time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand, and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other. As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, "Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark." Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn’t come up here to read." Nehemiah, Learning to Lead, J. M. Boice, Revell, 1990, p. 38
K. "More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent." - Billy Sunday
III. The Lack of Consecration – running half energetically with divided activity
A. Those who run half energetically are those who are lethargic about their Christian life.
B. In Philippians 3:14-15 Paul states that as a runner he stretches out and presses with all his energy to finish the course set before him.
C. Hebrews 12:1 MKJV Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience (a constant perseverance) the race that is set before us.
D. To too many Good enough is good enough! God deserves 100% of our best.
E. At the 1968 Olympic Games, in Mexico, the marathon was the final event on the program. The Olympic stadium was packed, and there was excitement as the first athlete, an Ethiopian runner entered the stadium. The crowd erupted as he crosses the finish line. Way back in the field was another runner, John Stephen Akwhari of Tanzania. He had been eclipsed by the other runners. After 30 kilometers his head was throbbing, his muscles were aching and he fell to the ground. He had serious leg injuries and officials wanted him to retire, but he refused. With his knee bandaged Akwhari picked himself up and hobbled the remaining 12 kilometers to the finish line. An hour after the winner had finished Akwhari entered the stadium. All but a few thousand of the crowd had gone home. Akwhari moved around the track at a painstakingly slow pace, until finally he collapsed over the finish line. It is one of the most heroic efforts of Olympic history. Afterward, asked by a reporter why he had not dropped out, Akwhari said, "My country did not send me to start the race. They sent me to finish." (Source: story reported on Sydney 2000 Olympics website)
F. Ecclesiastes 9:10 MKJV Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...
G. Indifference and laziness are the devil’s chief tools against Christians.
H. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
I. It is better to wear out than to rust out. - George Whitefield (1714-1770)
J. Another memorable moment in Olympics history came in the semi-final of the 400 meters at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Derek Redmond was the British entrant, and he held out strong hopes for a medal. He held the British record for the 400 meters and his 400 meter relay team was already the European champions. Redmond had experienced heartbreak in the 1998 Seoul Olympics when injury forced him to pull out of his heat just minutes before it was due to be run. But this time around he was determined to win. He said he wanted to win to honor his father who had supported him all his life. And now his time had come. The starter’s gun fired and Redmond set off. 140 meters down the track he was in a strong position when his hamstring gave way. He collapsed to the ground in a ball of pain and tears. Medics ran out to assist him but Redman waved them away. He was determined to finish the race, even if he couldn’t win it. And so he crawled and hobbled his way along the track. At this point Redmond’s father Jim raced down from the stands, pushed the security guards aside and ran out to his son. He placed an arm around Derek and supported him as he hobbled the rest of the way. "You don’t have to do this" Jim told his son. "Yes I do" Derek replied. "Well then" said Jim, "we’re going to finish this together" Then, just before they reached the finish line, with the crowd screaming in support, Jim Redmond let his son go, so that he could cross the line on his own. Interviewed after this incredible race, Derek Redmond said that his father was the only one who could help him, because he was the only one who knew what he’d been through. Christ comes alongside us and enables us to finish our race, because he knows what we’ve been through. He became a human being and lived as a human being. According to Hebrews this makes Jesus the perfect high priest, able to sympathize with our weaknesses. The goal in the Christian race is not necessarily to be first across the line, but to get across it to finish well. And in running that race, like Derek Redmond, we do not run alone. We have the support of the Spirit and a crowd of fellow believers screaming encouragement to us from the stands. What’s more this support from God comes not only in the form of celebration when we succeed, but standing by our side when we fall. – Sources: Information obtained from Sports Illustrated, celebagents.cok.uk, india-today.com and Tony Campolo, Let Me Tell You A Story
CONCLUSION: Are you running or have you stumbled? How will you finish the race? Have you been guilty of a lack of compulsion, a lack of concentration, or a lack of consecration? Understand God wants you to finish well and is willing to help you if you will give him your whole heart, if you will focus on Christ and His will for your life, if you will persevere for His kingdom’s sake. In Galatians 5:9 Paul states that it only takes the littlest amount of sin or self to trip us up as we run. If you have stumbled know this today, our wonderful Father stands ready to pick you up, clean you up, hold you up, fire you up and keep you up until you finish well. If you will call upon Him, He will hear. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
