Endurance is necessary in order to be successful at racing. It is the ability to bear pain and hardships, to continue or to last despite adverse conditions, fatigue or stress.In high school, I remember having to run a mile in order to get a passing grade in gym class. Three times around our stadium track. Piece of cake...or so I thought. I began the first lap with lots of energy, speed and with the best of intentions. The slower second lap, however, felt as though I had somehow been invisibly weighted down. The third, and final lap, even more so. My endurance was being tested. Fortunately, I was able to persevere and to finish.
Every race is begun with the best of intentions. With the goal of finishing first and taking the prize. With the expectation of performing at our best. But inevitably, somewhere during the course of the race, we encounter obstacles, expected or unexpected. Visible or invisible. Opportunities to become weary and discouraged. Those twists, turns or issues which confront us that we must push through in order to finish. And it is by enduring that we will succeed.
As Christians, we have a course set before us. An endurance race to run. One, like any other race, with it's share of hardships, hindrances and hurts. Opportunities to sin, to become weary and discouraged and even to quit. We can be slowed down or even stopped completely by them. But be encouraged by Paul (and me) and know that there are others who have gone before us and have endured. More than perhaps we ever will. And by One, in particular, who has endured more than us all. He endured the punishment for our sin and an agonizing death on a cross (Heb. 12:2). And finished the race. How can it be done? Endurance.
Sock Monkey Snippet: By enduring, we will succeed.
