What a race we are running.

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All people in life will reach the end of a race, as believers we have a goal and are you running the race to receive the eternal prize?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you may not grow weary and fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Imagine the following picture: The marathon race begins, all the runners start out, and one of them decides to go his own way. While he accepts and respects the 50 km marathon, he also accepts the place where the finish line will be, but he chooses his own routes, alternatives that are much easier than those that are established. This seems like something exceptional, perhaps he will try less or it will be much easier for him, but when he reaches the goal, it is impossible for him to have the prize.

This seems like a meaningless picture, but even we are prone to fall into this type of thinking or practice it when we decide to live life according to our path instead of walking the path laid out by God. When we trust in God and are guided by the advice of his word, we are running the good race, we are pursuing the right path, but we easily deviate when we decide on our own paths and we deviate.

We will all reach the end of the race of life, whether we run God's way and live a full life in Him or live our own way, reaching the goal in any way does not imply that we have the same reward or prize. Imagine running your whole life and then looking back and realizing that you haven't run the race that was meant for you, at that moment of the end realizing that what you had done all your life had not been good or right.

11 For no one can lay any other foundation than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 And if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become manifest, for the Day will make it known, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test each man's work of whatever kind. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as by fire.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

God has for us a full life in Him, a map laid out through His living Word, the complete provision of everything we need for this race, and the Holy Spirit accompanying and guiding us at all times. So: even if at times we stray from the path, no matter how far from the path we are today, God has sent His Holy Spirit so that through a word, a reading, an example or by any means, we remember that we must run on the path traced by Him, He reminds us of the right path and gives us all the resources and tools to return to it and persevere until the end. I invite you to meditate today on the path you are running.