See How They Run
Look up. Look up to the left. There’s Noah! He ran a rough race, faced a crowd of ridicule. He ran his race almost alone. Are you running alone? Look up to brother Noah. I can hear him say, “Stick with it. Don’t give up. It’s worth it.”
Look to the right there. Isn’t that Job? Nobody ran a tougher race. He led a full team until he lost them all, but he kept plodding … barefoot, boiled. Have you lost your running mates? Possessions? Health? Brother Job’s rooting for you. Run, run, run! It’s worth it.
Look again. Can you spot Daniel? He ran on his opponent’s field. No home-court advantage. Officials devised strange rules. He refused and paid penalties. Are you in the penalty box unjustly? Look up. See brother Daniel. He’s yelling, “My God is able. My God is able. My God is able to deliver.”
More Runners
And who’s down there? Why, it’s John. He ran the preliminaries. He was the best but always finished second. Do you run while the crowds file out to the concessions? Is it your job to make someone else look good, be successful? If so, watch brother John. He’s the one in the winner’s circle.
And the little guy in the corner. Hey, Paul! He ran his race uphill but he won by a mile and convinced others to run too. Are you discouraged, depressed? Listen to the old coach. Keep those knees up and kick, kick, kick!
Look closer. You’ll see Augustine … Luther … Wesley and Spurgeon, Moody and Marshall. And ahead … just across the finish line. Isn’t that Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad? How can you let them down? With a crowd like that, how can you lose?
Weighted Down
Weights work great for training, but slow you down for the trials. Small boys look cute clutched to Daddy’s ankles, but they grow and grow. What’s your weight? Immorality? Bitterness? Anger? Jealousy? Maybe T.V.? Snacks? Security? Weekends?
Who Can Help?
Look! In the reviewing stand … it’s Jesus! He laid out the court, built the stands, designed the track. He blazed the trail and showed us how to run.
His Race
What a day! Crowds crammed the stadium … jumped, yelled, cheered, confettied the track. Free food and autographs for everyone … until uptight critics spread rumors.
“He’s too perfect,” they fumed. “Surely he’s cheating,” they cried. “He broke the training rules,” they hissed. “He’s on pep pills,” they lied. “He called this great stadium a pile of junk. He chased vendors out of the aisles. Why, he’s been seen with known criminal types.”
Gradually, applause and cheers vied with boos, jeers. They chanted and spit and mocked him with leers. He kept running. “Stop the race,” officials cried. They pleaded and bribed. He kept running. He was disqualified. But he just kept right on running.
Finally, critics, officials, and bystanders rushed onto the track. And there in the middle of the arena, they grabbed him, heaved him up and killed him.
Murdered
In the stadium he built. Murdered, running the big race he designed. Murdered, by the very people he came to train.
Games ceased that day. One by one the mob disappeared. Then, in the chilly stillness of dawn the pat, pat, pat of a runner’s gait echoed throughout the deserted stadium. Two female fans returning, stopped and stared. Then they rushed home through the empty seats to bring back a few teammates, family, friends.
They witness as he crosses the finish line. He’s still running. He won! We won!
After a jubilant victory celebration, they ran through temples, courts and prison cells. They ran through countries, cultures and nations. Through years, decades and centuries, shouting the news.
Our Race
Today the stadium’s full again. Now, we hold the torch. Angry, confused voices still clash and roar while spirit muscles ache and strain. But look up. Look at the Judge’s stand. It’s King Jesus and he’s on our side and he’s the only Judge. Look again! He’s rooting, shouting, scoring, for you and me. Listen, can’t you hear him call?
Run, run, run! Hang in there. It’s worth it. Hey, that’s my team. That’s my boys, my girls.
See how they run!
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“Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely
and let us run with perseverance the race set before us,
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame
and is seated at the right hand of God.”
Hebrews 12:1,2
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Stephen Bly and Janet Chester Bly
Copyright©1976
Western novelist, pastor and author Stephen Bly (1944-2011) preached this inspiring sermon for many church congregations across U.S. in the ’70s and ’80s. His widow, author Janet Chester Bly, revised it into this poetic form.
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