Faces Beside the Road
The 13.1 mile Mini Marathon winds through Indianapolis each May, and you
see an incredible variety of people along the way.
Many of them seem to be there out of curiosity ("Honey, let's walk over and
see what kind of weirdos can't find anything better to do than run for two
hours!").
Others are clearly there to support a friend, and they hold up signs saying
"Go John" or "Run Forest Run" or "Don't throw up now! just 6 miles to go".
Some just happen to live along the course, and since they are basically
trapped at home for the duration of the race, they bring out a lawn-chair
and watch.
Along the way are also thousands of volunteers. Some are there to hand you a
cup of cool water.
Others are trained in First Aid and rush out onto the course whenever a
runner falls or starts to get dehydrated. Some are there to entertain you
and help you pass the time (like the polka band and a man in a kilt playing
bagpipes).
But not everyone along the way is there to help you. The strangest group I
saw on the course this year were three men standing in front of a liquor
store.
Just as the volunteers stand and hold out cups of cool water, these men were
holding out bottles of liquor and cans of beer to the runners.
I am sure many of the runners enjoy drinking beer at home - heard two men
talking about how they were going to have some after the race. But not a
single runner stopped for a drink that day.
In fact, many runners laughed at the sight, because we all knew a simple
fact: distance running and beer just don't mix very well. And the runners
had invested too many hours training to jeopardize their race for a few
minutes of distraction.
Along the course of the Christian race are many faces. Some are there to
help you. Some are there to hurt you. Still others are offering you things
that seem good, but in the end will slow you down or get you off-track.
You've invested too much in the Christian race to give it all up for a few
minutes of distraction. When Satan calls you off to the side of the course,
set your eyes on the goal and just keep running.
Pass this inspiration onto all your family and friends...
- Author Unknown
1 Corinthians 9 :24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
1 Corinthians 9:25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in
all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an
imperishable crown.
1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight:
not as one who beats the air.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
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