I have fallen down many times… and when I say many times, I mean many times. I’ve told myself time and time again that I would not do something, say something, think a certain way, act a certain way, or react a certain way only to do the very thing that I said I would not do. If you're familiar with Romans 7… there is a section where the Apostle Paul says “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” I don’t know about you, but I can absolutely relate with that verse ALL too well.
Falling down is one thing, but what happens after the fall? That’s often where the real battle takes place for me. Not wanting to get back up only to fall again, or being discouraged that I let God down, or someone else down for that matter. Often being overwhelmed with believing things that are just not true about God, or about myself or about others. Life on the ground is not a pleasant place to be… not a place where we’re supposed to be.
The Apostle Paul often used athletic metaphors in his writings… that resonates with me. To a church that was struggling… up and down and all over the place he writes –
1 Corinthians 9:24-26 – “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.”
He likens life with God as that of a race. The invitation… the challenge ‘Run to win!’ But this race is not a momentary thing, it’s an eternal thing. In many ways, he’s telling us that the race we run today is a reflection of what we believe about eternity, hence he says ‘run with purpose in every step.’
Running to win… running with purpose in every step DOES not mean we will never fall. But what it does mean is that when we fall, we have a reason, a purpose to get back up and keep running. Our purpose? Heaven… life with God for eternity in His Presence! I don’t know about you, but I want to run to heaven. I might end up with a lot of bumps and bruise and even a limp on the road to heaven, but life with God in heaven will keep me getting up time and time again.
Years ago, I came across a poem entitled ‘The Race.’ God has used this poem in my life time and time again to remind me that winning is not found in crossing the finish line first, but in rising each time I fall.
Grateful that within the GENESIS Community there are so many who are running the race with great purpose in every step they take. Even more, I’m grateful for the MANY who are helping me to rise each time I fall.
THE RACE - author unknown
They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire.
To win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought, “My dad will be so proud.”But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace,
And mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.So down he fell and with him hope. He couldn’t win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”He quickly rose, no damage done – behind a bit, that’s all,
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.He wished that he had quite before with only one disgrace.
I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
That steady look that said again, “Get up and win the race.”So, he jumped up to try again. Ten yards behind the last.
If I’m to gain those yards, he thought, I’ve got to run real fast.
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
There’s no sense running anymore – three strikes and I’m out – why try?
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had flew away.
So far behind, so error prone, closer all the way.I’ve lost, so what’s the use, he thought, I’ll live with my disgrace.
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up,” an echo sounded low. “Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here, get up and win the race.”With borrowed will, “Get up,” it said, “You haven’t lost at all,
For winning is not more than this, to rise each time you fall.”
So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been.
Still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he’d rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.They cheered the winning runner as he crossed first place.
Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud;
You would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his Dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me you won,” his father said, “You rose each time you fell.”And when things seemed dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy – helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and down and all,
And all you have to do to win – is rise each time you fall.
“Quit!” “GIVE UP, YOU’RE BEATEN.” They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says, “GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!”
