Finish The Race You Started (by Kathleen)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
-2 Timothy 4:7-

I participated in sports growing up; I ran for class office; I was confronted with many situations where I had to “keep on, keepin’ on.” But nothing, I mean nothing, compares to the discipline and determination it took for me to complete the 26.2-mile marathon I ran last weekend. Physically, it felt like there was NO possible way I could continue on. Mentally, however, I forced myself not to give up, to push through the inextricable pain and finish the race I started.

Paul’s words had never been so clear to me then when I hit mile 16 and I started to cramp in areas I never knew could cramp. Pain shot throw my knees like a swift arrow. My body was breaking but I continued on. I repeated over and over in my head,” My body does not control me. I control my body. My body does not control me. I CONTROL my body.”

You see? Our faith is a lot like a marathon. Sin is like the pain I felt when I hit my “wall.” When my hip flexors tightened up like a strong fist and a sensation that can only be described as a blazing fire spread through my calves, I could have given up. I didn’t though. I CHOSE not to let the pain I felt in my body determine the outcome of my race. We have to CHOOSE not to let the temptation of sin determine the outcome of our life.

Strict discipline is the only way I know how to control my flesh. I mean let’s be honest, sexual sin is a huge stumbling block for me. So I have made several commitments to God, and myself in an effort, not to allow sin to pull me out of the TRUE race- again. If anything, the greatest lesson I learned from running a marathon is how much we can control our bodies. Pushing through pain is not easy but it can be done; getting out of the bedroom when kissing is getting a little too steamy is not easy but it can be done.

The determination it took to get 26 miles was challenging but when I crossed the finish line, I almost cried. The sense of accomplishment was immeasurable. I cannot even imagine the feeling I will experience when I cross the ultimate finish line... I'm thinking it’s gonna to be good.