 The Amazing Race... One of the most popular and celebrated of all the shows that fall into this genre is the program The Amazing Race. This is a reality show in which teams comprised of two people, who have some preexisting relationship, race around the world in competition against other teams. And what makes this show so amazing is that the contestants travel a host of countries while using every mode of transportation known to man, from planes to rickshaws, while in search of winning the grand prize of one million dollars.
In 2 Timothy 4:6-8, the apostle Paul speaks of an amazing race of another kind...
"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the Righteous judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
What makes this race that Paul speaks of so amazing is that the grand prize is not awarded to those who come in first, but rather to anyone who simply finishes. The point that Paul makes here is that for every child of God the most important aspect of this race is not about being first, but it's about being faithful. As one of my mentors reminded me years ago, the key to being a success in this life is remembering to stay in your lane.
What Paul alludes to in these few verses is that the only person that we are in competition with is ourselves. Someone once said, "Success is not what you have done compared to what someone else has done, but it's what you have done compared to what you could have done." As for the apostle Paul, he reminds us that he has finished his course, he has run the race in which he was given to run, he has remained in his lane, therefore God has laid up a crown just for him. But not just for him alone, but for each of us who have determined in our hearts to remain faithful to the race that God has called us to run.
Senior Pastor |
