Growth

Running With Passion

Years ago when I was visiting Kenya, my friend and I decided to go on a run. What we called a run could more rightly be called a jog, especially considering that we were running in the land of Olympic marathoners.

Literally.

Our path was the same as what they used for practice. If I remember correctly, they blew by us as we were on our jaunt. Of course we ran shorter, slower, and with less resolve than they did. Our goal was to get some exercise; their goal was to win a race.

As I think about them sprinting by, I can’t help but think it wasn’t just the pursuit of victory that they were running for. They were running for the honor of their homeland. In a nation that is often written about for its political unrest and its poor economy, these Olympians provide a reason for patriotic pride. They were running to represent their country well. Their passion, their endurance, was fueled by this purpose.

So should it be for Christians. After all, the Christian life is often represented as a race in Scripture (I Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:1). The purpose that fuels our passion should that we want to represent Christ well. Just as Olympians want to bring prestige to their country, we should want our lives to bring honor to His name.

In doing so, we can look to our future prize. And the joy we will feel when victory is achieved.

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Hope

Shaken

Since I’ve spent the majority of my life living in California, I’m pretty used to earthquakes. I know what it is like for the pictures to begin shaking, the earth to begin rolling, and the momentary calculation of wondering how long it’s going to last. I can quickly figure out where the nearest door jam is, and have perfected the maneuver to protect my neck should things start falling. Because of all this, an earthquake very rarely rattles my nerves. In fact, I’ve been known to sleep through many of them, much to the chagrin of my sister who would succeed in waking me up right as they ended.

However, despite my relative calm, earthquakes are not something to be taken lightly. Due to the recent earthquake in Japan, we are all well too familiar with the damage and destruction that they can cause. Not only do buildings and roadways cease to hold their form, but even the land itself reportedly moved as a result of the recent quake. It takes a very strong force to literally adjust the landscape of our globe and yet an earthquake can do that.

Unlike the layout of the Earth, however, our God has promised that His kingdom is unshakable. There is no force that can cause Him to move or that will alter His plans. The world around us may crumble, yet He is a strong tower that the righteous may run into and be safe.  He will not buckle under force, nor does He sway with the currents or tremble at evil; He remains.

And because of this, regardless of the rattle and rolling that our lives may be experiencing, we need too, need not be shaken.

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