With endurance – “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). As we run our race, we must do so with endurance so that we will complete the course. With diligence – “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). In a typical race, many competitors run, yet only one is victorious. Therefore, in order to win, one must run to the best of his ability so that he will finish before the others. There will not be just one winner in our race (2 Timothy 4:7-8), but we must show the same diligence as the runner striving to win the one prize and pursue the goal with everything that is in us. In accordance with the rules – “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). A violation of the rules will cause an athlete to be disqualified. In the same way, we must faithfully obey the Lord’s instructions (Matthew 28:20; Colossians 3:17) if we hope to win the prize. If we run our race with endurance, diligence, and in accordance with the rules, we can look forward to receiving the reward. Paul told Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). We can have that same expectation that Paul had if we also finish the course and keep the faith. Let us “run in such a way that [we] may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). –Andy Sochor
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