The Race

It was a beautiful day on the beaches of Lake Michigan. I was excited to get in the water and enjoy the afternoon with my family. I was holding the paddle board under my arm while my son had his strapped over his shoulder. Together, we raced out into the waves. Beating me, he hopped on his board and began paddling out on his knees. I followed close behind, imitating his actions. That’s when I decided to go for it. Rising to my feet, I thrust the paddle into the cold water and pushed.

“Dad! Do not stand on the board in shallow water!” Kylie yelled. She had clearly listened to the instructions. Next thing I knew, waves began to roll by, throwing me off balance, causing me to jump from the board. In a rush, my feet hit the sandy floor and I fell to my butt. Floating there with my legs in in front me, I watched as my right leg waved back and forth while the left one remained steady. I had broken my leg.

James, the brother of Jesus, wrote in his letter that we will all fall into trials! The unexpected will happen. The pain will set in. The depression will come in waves. Next thing we know, we are in a pit. Sidelined.

Hebrews 12:1b, “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

The greek word for “the race” is ἀγών, ἀγῶνος, ὁ (1) literally (athletic) contest; metaphorically race (i.e. course) of life (Hebrews 12.1); (2) of exertion and self-denial in the face of opposition conflict, struggle, fight; figuratively, of intense nonphysical struggle, conflict (1 Thessalonians 2.2).

Check out the cross references for the Greek word, the race:

Noun:

  • “Struggle” - Colossians 2:1 ESV

  • “Conflict” - Philippians 1:30 ESV

  • “Opposition” - 1 Thessalonians 2:2 CSB

  • “Fight” - 1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

Verb:

  • “Struggling” - Colossians 1:29 ESV

  • “Fighting” - John 18:36 ESV

  • “Fight” - 1 Timothy 6:12 ESV

  • “Fought” - 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

  • “Strive” - Luke 13:24 ESV

  • “Athlete” - 1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV

I love the image of the gauntlet. We could accurately reword Hebrews 12:1b to read, “through endurance let us run the gauntlet set before us.”

Reading the surrounding verses and we see that we’re not alone in this gauntlet run either. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God,” (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

As we run the gauntlet, we can learn from Jesus’s example:

  • In Hebrews 5:7 it says that Jesus cried out to God with loud cries and tears in His suffering.

  • In 1 Peter 4:1 it says that we are to have the same mindset as Jesus, “I would rather die than sin as I run this gauntlet.”

  • Jesus knew His purpose in the pain. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised,” (Luke 9:22). Then in Luke 9:51 it says, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

  • “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done,” (Luke 22:42). Jesus was wanting another way. Yet, He said, “not my will, but your will be done.”

Jesus can relate with us in our pain! Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus ran the gauntlet so that by grace through faith with Jesus, we can run the gauntlet too.

In Galatians 2:20 it says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Let’s keep running the gauntlet together!

This is the Christian life.

Jedidiah Haas