One of my favorite songs is by the Christian rock group, DeGarmo & Key. I began listening to them in the mid to late 70s and continued listening to them until they disbanded in the 90s to pursue other ventures. Dana Kay has since gone to be with Jesus and I’m sure heard a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” My favorite song by them was called Long Distance Runner. (You can listen here).
That song is about running the Christian life. Using the motif of a runner, it speaks of the Christian life as not being a sprint but a long distance run.
Would you please think with me about that comparison for a moment? We are told in 2 cor. 5:7 to “walk by faith, not by sight.” Curious language, but true. It does not say, “Sprint by faith.”
Why?
Simple. The Christian life is a walk. We speak about “the Christian walk.” We never say anything close to “the Christian sprint.” We might talk about the life of a follower of Jesus being a long distance run (because it is), but never a sprint. I don’t know about you but my legs don’t run anymore. There are days I feel strong walking. My legs and knees feel strong. No pain. No discomfort. But there are those days-days like yesterday in fact-when it seems like every move, every step is agony. The knee that will someday need replaced balked at every step and seemed to mock me saying, “How long will this go on?” 🙂
Sounds like life, doesn’t it? Days of exhilaration co-mingled with days of pain. If I do happen to run (spiritually, that is), it isn’t very long at all. I wasn’t made for sprinting. I was made for slow and steady.
Take a moment and stop to read Colossians 2:6-7 and get a further glimpse into my thinking. And then remember: it is not a sprint; it is a long distance walk/run.
Yes, and for the long distance, it is TRUE we must be established in the faith. Otherwise, the first stone and we will roll our ankle, the first small child that darts in front of us can make even walking difficult. Walking IN HIM is the only way I make it. Well, that and talking out loud to myself while talking to God sometimes is another training secret.
Good analogies MS. It is easy to get tripped up if we are only it for the short haul and don’t keep our eyes on the prize of eternity.
Wonderful reminder here, Bill, that we need to focus on the long game when following the Lord. It is a daily journey, not a daily sprint.
Blessings!
Excellent observation Martha.
Good reminder, often we can get wrapped up in the push and can burn out if not careful, especially if trying to move forward quickly and in our own power.
Good to keep in mind that we are called to the walk and not try to outpace what God is putting before us.
His power, His timing!
Well said Ryan. Outpacing God is what I find myself “tending” to do. I need to slow down and let Him do His thing in His power and His timing.
I think walking with God is taking the time to build the relationship, listening, and allowing God to help you to develop spiritually. When you are in a sprint, your eyes are only focused on the end, not growing from the journey. God reveals things to us when we are ready, if the pace to fast we will not take in the lessons that will can change who we are and how effective we can be in His kingdom.
That is a great point Gail! Sprinting is focusing on the end and not enjoying or learning from and during the journey.