Run the Race

A note dropped though our letter box a few days ago (unfortunately not of the pounds sterling variety!)  It was a typed letter; there was no return address (which always makes me a little suspicious).  Its purpose was to inform us of a 10K run taking place in Doncaster this coming Sunday.  We had received the notification because the roads around us are to be closed from around 7am on Sunday morning, until approx 1pm.  Rather inconvenient for getting to church!

The note gave a website address for further information (it is increasingly the case that people without internet access are at a distinct disadvantage these days).  There was on the website a list of roads to be closed, and as I read through the list it soon became apparent that many of the town centre roads will be closed for the morning.  One of my churches, Priory, is right in the middle of town, and the road closures will prevent people getting to the church car park.

It is obvious that the road closures will have a major impact on the numbers of people attending church on Sunday morning.  It is a shame that neither the organisers nor the local council thought to inform the church of what is happening on Sunday.  It is only because I happen to live on a road which is being closed that I discovered how the 10K run will affect the town centre.

We did think about whether we should still go ahead with our normal morning service; in the end we decided to do so, even if the congregation is somewhat lower than normal this Sunday.  I have decided to use as the theme for the service "Run the Race".  It is interesting that several times in the letters of St Paul in the New Testament we find the image of the athlete.  I will be referring to some of them during the service.  To quote just one, from Acts 20:24, ‘I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.’

One of the most iconic and memorable images from recent Olympic Games came in the final of the 400m in Barcelona, in 1992.  British Runner, Derek Redmond, had come back from a battle against injury to reach the final, and was hoping to win a medal to round off his career.  Half way down the back straight he pulled up with a serious hamstring injury; it was a devastating blow.  Amazingly, he picked himself up and began to hobble round the track to the finishing line.  He was soon joined by his father, who had been watching from the stands.  Together, father and son crossed the line, to the cheers of the crowd.  Redmond was determined to finish, come what may (to watch the race, click here).

The apostle Paul faced tremendous opposition from those who opposed his preaching of the gospel.  He was beaten, arrested, and imprisoned, reviled.  Yet he would not give in - he, too, was determined 'to finish the race and complete the task.'  All of us who set out to follow Jesus will face hard times, when we feel like giving in.  In Jesus' strength we need to keep going, to press on, remembering that Jesus himself said, 'he who perseveres to the end will be saved' (Matthew 24:13).  I came across the following quotation recently, which seems appropriate: "God-given struggles don't come to stay, they come to pass. Just be patient. Wait while God works for you."