Pros
update
12 Oct 06
“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:29
In the film Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell the Scottish sprinter asks, “Then where does the power come from to see the race to its end?” Of course he’s not really asking about the 400 metres race that he competed in during the 1924 Olympics, he’s talking about the marathon of the Christian life. It can be such a hard race.
Early on in his career Liddell competed in a Scotland verses France athletics meet in the 400 metres. Liddell fell on the first bend. Getting up he was twenty metres behind the field and he famously came from behind in the back straight to win the race. Anyone who’s been a Christian for a while knows that falling down is unavoidable in the Christian life; we get things wrong all the time. We don’t love God as we would like to, we don’t treat him with the devotion that he deserves, we’re too self-reliant, or we’re lacking passion in our relationship with Him. And we fail to love our neighbours as ourselves; comments we make, thoughts we harbour, or good deeds that we neglect. We’re constantly falling down and it makes us feel that we may never complete the race.
So where does the power come from to see the race to its end, even when you’ve fallen down. Liddell answered his own question, “from within”. As Christians we have Christ’s energy working within us. It’s the energy that comes from his grace – nothing we can do can make him love us any more, and nothing we do will make him love us any less. When we fall down we need to remind ourselves that our mistakes have already been paid for by his death on the cross. When we don’t treat him rightly or when we feel distant then we need to remind ourselves that he couldn’t be closer – he’s living inside us. And when it’s hard to keep living the Christian life, maybe because of things that others say or do, or maybe just because you’re weary – then remember that the one who will keep you is faithful and he’ll get you to the end of the race. Claim that promise this week and keep running with his energy.
See you at the finish line.
Graham and Pete