A Marathon, Not a Sprint

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:13-21 ESV). Recently I began building an extension to the deck at our home. It’s not a particularly difficult project, but it is turning out to be more time consuming than estimated! I suppose it only serves to remind me that it is a marathon rather than a sprint. Life is like that. Like a marathon, I will finish if I just keep at it! This is the image of what it is like to be a Christian, a marathoner. However, there are some differences also. The Apostle Paul described Christian life and faith as being like a race. We are moving headlong to the goal of communion with God. The image of the marathoner is powerful image because we understand that being a Christian is not something we do for just one hour a day, one day a week. Instead, being a follower and devoted disciple of Jesus is something we are for life, for eternity. And as compelling as Paul’s image is, we can sometimes take it too far. After all, marathoners run alone. They cannot even be helped along the way. If the stumble, they must get back on their feet without the help of anyone else, to be helped is to be disqualified. The image of the marathoner is helpful as long as we remember that Paul simply meant that being a Christian is a lifelong pursuit. But being a devoted disciple is not something we can be all by ourselves. Being a devoted disciple is a team endeavor. On the last day Jesus was on earth, he gathered his disciples and told them that they were to continue his ministry of taking the good news of God’s love to the entire world. “Go into all the world,” Jesus said. Before he was arrested and put to death by the Roman political machine, Jesus prayed for his disciples. He told God that he was sending his devoted disciples into the world to continue the mission he started. Jesus spoke to God and said, “as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.” The bottom line for devoted disciples is that we have been saved for a purpose. When we talk about the life-long truth of being a Christian, the image of the marathoner works. But when we talk about being deployed in Jesus’ global mission, the image of the marathoner lacks firepower. Devoted disciples are not lone rangers running the race without need or benefit of other brothers and sisters in Christ. Being a devoted disciple and being deployed in Jesus’ global mission is a team sport. Today, think about the way that you can work with others in the mission God has given you to do. Be patient in your well doing. Run the race set before you and know that the Lord has been, and will continue to pray for you. Don’t give up!