What are you living for?

I’m not in the race.

Thats what I said as I ran by a couple who moved over for me.

There happened to be my dream race going on the same day I decided to go to Mohican to run so everyone I passed thought I was part of the race and moved over for me.

But this one couple had said prior to me meeting them, “Oh theres a runner, move over.” Thats when I replied as I got closer, “I’m not in the race, you don’t have to move over for me.” There reply as I passed saying thank you, “It’s respectful. We are just going for a stroll, you are burning calories.”

I’m not in the race.

Why did that phrase stick with me while I continued running?

I’m not in the race.

I started to wonder what that meant.

I’m not in the race.

When I got back to the lodge to change and spend time in bible and journaling, I began to pray about why that phrase seemed to stand out so much.

I’m not in the race.

I opened to Hebrews 12:1-3, the classic ‘running the race’ passage, but then ended up flipping to 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize: So run, that ye may obtain.

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I therefore so run, not as uncertaintly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

I was running amongst the other runners in the race, but I was not in the race.

This got me thinking:

Am I all in?

Am I really running the race I was called to run?

Or am I just trying to survive?

The other day as I drove down the road I saw a billboard that said, What are you living for? It’s Time.

It felt like a message from God. He’s has been telling me ‘It’s Time’ for two years now.

That caused me to then question what I was doing. Am I doing what He wants me to do? Am I missing something?

My mind keeps going back to a runner who had passed me earlier. I had begun walking up a steep incline that had lots of roots and rocks. But this guy who was clearly fit and had done this numourus times, ran past me and bounded up that hill like it was as flat as a pancake.

Maybe I am running the race, but am I going all out?

Am I training and striving for the prize at the end?

Or am I doing things half-hearted and sloppy just trying to make it through?

My heart goes to 1 Samuel 12:24 and compares it to Hebrews 12:3.

Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. – 1 Samuel 12:24

For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. – Hebrews 12:3

Am I serving the Lord with ALL my heart?

I will continue to ponder and pray about these things for myself but I thought it would be an interesting question to share here,

Are you in the race or just surviving? What are you living for? Is it time for you to start doing something the Lord has laid on your heart?

Until next time,

Happy Running!