By Ife J. Ibitayo
For my first article on passing my driving test on my first (fifth) try, click here.
I’ve never been a fan of long-distance running. Whenever I’m asked to participate in a walk-a-thon with an entry fee, I reply, “So they’re paying me to run, right?” But some time in college, I decided I needed to improve my cardio. I bit the bullet, purchased a solid pair of running shoes, and hit the track.
One day, a few of my friends decided to jog from main campus to the recreation fields. The distance was a little farther than I was used to jogging, but I was confident I’d be up to the challenge. However, three-fourths of the way through the jog, I drained my water bottle. I jogged about another quarter mile before my vision began to darken. I sank to the curb, panting.
Running Out
Randy Alcorn said, “The Christian life is not a 100-meter dash but a marathon. Those who lack patience, endurance and discipline will drop out of the race.” Just as most people can dash one-hundred meters, many start the Christian journey well but very few finish.
Jesus Himself said, “‘Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him'” (Luke 14:27-29 NASB).
My friends–thankfully–did not mock me when I plopped down. But the shame was real. I was unable to continue that jog on my own.
Filling Up
A few minutes later, a friend of mine came by and gave me a cup of water he’d retrieved from a nearby house. Once I gulped that water down, I was refreshed and able to finish the jog we had started. Similarly, we have no hope of finishing the marathon of the Christian life without the fount of living water refreshing us (John 4:10).
The Holy Spirit is this conduit through whom we tap into the river of God’s blessings. Through Him we receive the truth we need to counteract Satan’s lies (John 16:13), the comfort we need to face the world’s pain (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and the freedom we need to run this lifetime marathon well (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Conclusion
We will all stumble along the way. We will disrespect our parents or let down our friends or disappoint ourselves. But we have a choice: Remain in that puddle of sweat and defeat or get back up, accept a refreshing drink of the power of the Holy Spirit, and keep on running.
“‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'”
(John 15:5 NIV)