In 1967, Kathrine Switzer was a 20-year old college student at Syracuse University when she became the first woman to run the Boston Marathon. Although women weren’t allowed to complete, she registered using her initials and participated. During the race, marathon official Jock Semple realized Switzer was a woman and attempted to physically remove her from the competition. Other runners blocked Semple and Switzer completed the marathon. The story and photograph of the incident made global headlines. Semple later publicly apologized for his actions and the two reconciled. Today nearly half of the Boston Marathon runners are female.
In the New Testament, and especially in Paul’s letters, it’s common to come across athletic metaphors used to describe Christian living. The writer of Hebrews did so as well.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder 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 the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, emphasis mine)
Regardless of our gender, as Christians, we will encounter obstacles, distractions, and naysayers as we “run our race.” It might come in the form of loved one who thinks you’ve “taken your faith too far,” silent disapproval from former friends, cultural expectations, personal sin, or the relentless enemy of our souls who desperately attempts to divert our devotion away from Christ (2 Cor 11:3). The writer of Hebrews says we are to “lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely” so we can run our race with endurance.
And how do we do that?
We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (v.2) and ignore the distractions. Practically speaking, that means tending to the habitual sins that prevent us from running well and disregarding the voices that have the potential to disrupt our faith journey. Jesus endured more opposition than anyone in the history of mankind while he was fulfilling his earthly mission and he did it flawlessly. Only Jesus can offer the grace we need to finish well. As we run our race, we make a dangerous error when we divert our eyes from Christ and onto the distractions that taunt us from the sidelines. God never intended for us to run alone. We’ll be wise to enjoy the presence and encouragement of our brothers and sisters in Christ who run alongside us. And above all, we need to keep our eyes fixed on the One who can empower us to finish.
“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)
