Called To Endurance – Part 3

When someone thinks of endurance they typically imagine a runner. The effort and determination of a runner, especially a long-distance marathon runner, is a great analogy for the Christian life. Why is that so? Because Christians are called to endurance throughout life, just as a marathon runner is called to endurance throughout life if he or she wants to be successful in completing the race!

This analogy is used in Scripture itself.  The apostle Paul, when writing to the church at Corinth, used this imagery to convey a very important truth; Christians are called to a life of endurance;

1 Cor 9:24-25

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. (NKJV)

Paul asserts that temperance (self-control) is a part of enduring the race we are all entered into. He uses the concept of training for a physical race as an example of the kind of lifestyle we should live.

Training For The Race

No serious entrant into a race simply goes into the competition on a whim! It requires a life of discipline, commitment, and consistency to condition for the upcoming challenge, and the Christian life is no different. In fact, he claims, instilling these qualities in our spiritual lives are even more important than in a physical race. “…they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” The stakes for them are only temporary, but the stakes for us are eternal!

Before his execution Paul made another comparison to living life as if he were in a race;

2 Tim 4:6-8

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.(NKJV)

Some people will state, “That’s all well and good for Paul, but he was an apostle.” My answer to that is to think about who Paul was writing to when he penned those words. He was writing to believers! So then, if Paul thought to live a successful  Christian life included being called to endurance, what does that look like? It means;

• It’s a long-term commitment and not a one-time decision. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
• It’s to include our entire lifestyle and not just the areas we choose to include.
• It doesn’t mean we don’t make mistakes. Instead, it means we continue in our race until we cross the finish line.
• It’s universal. Every single Christian is called to endurance, not just a select few.

If these statements are true, then what can we do to put it into practical, everyday life? Can we increase our level of endurance? How is being called to endurance not the same as being called to perfection (meaning we make no mistakes)? These are good questions and they deserve good answers!

This is Part Three in a multi-part series. Keep watch for the next installment!