Articles
Halfway
This week, the first half of the calendar year concludes and the second half begins. Is that surprising? Somehow, time seems to quickly pass before we realize such milestones as this have arrived, like reaching those milestone ages of 30, 40, or 65. When we reach those points in our lives, we tend to look back on what we have accomplished — or not — and sometimes make adjustments to hopefully do better in the time remaining.
The problem is, while we know exactly how many days are left in this and every calendar year, we don’t know if all those days will come — for us or for the whole of mankind. None of us knows how much time we have on earth, so none of us knows when we have reached ‘halfway’ of our earthly life. As the wise writer said many centuries ago, “man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them” (Eccl. 9:12).
Running the Race. Since we do not know how long we have, it is important we live our lives each day as if it might be our last because one day that will be true — and we don’t know which day that will be. Our lives are sometimes referred to as a ‘race,’ so, that being the case, let’s not stop halfway through the race; if we do, there can be no honest expectation of a reward. To this end, the apostle Paul urges us, “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” (1 Cor. 9:24). What is that ‘way’ in which we should run?
Giving our best. Maybe it doesn’t need to be said, but I also realize not everyone is aware that this race is one that has a definite end, and there will rewards for those who run it, as Paul wrote, “in such a way” that they might obtain the prize. It is God who is giving the “prize” of eternal life in heaven, so it is Him we must please in this lifelong race; we must run by His ‘rules,’ if you will.
And to that point, the apostle Paul also wrote, “if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5). As much as some want to believe that there are no rules now for those who live for Christ, such is utter nonsense, both Scripturally and logically. If there were no ‘rules’ [i.e., laws], then by what standard will we be judged in the end? How would anyone know what is sin and what is not? Jesus plainly stated, “the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
Giving our best also means giving our all. It is no mere coincidence that Jesus said the greatest command was that we “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). It is also no coincidence that Paul also wrote by Divine inspiration, “present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). If we are not giving our all, it is not enough.
When Jesus spoke to the seven churches of Asia, He chastised the church at Laodicea for being “lukewarm” (Rev. 3:16) and He was ready to “vomit [them] out.” That is how repulsive lukewarmness is to our Lord. We cannot give a halfhearted effort, give half of ourselves to Him, or merely run the race halfway and expect to be rewarded.
Running with endurance. For distance runners, especially, endurance is sometimes the greatest factor in winning — more so than mere speed. In this race of life, it is essential. It is essential because it is lifelong, and we don’t really know how long it is. It is essential because there will be many [or even just a few[ who will try to get us to give up, slow down, or just distract us. Some will make it difficult, or even more difficult than it already is. Because there will be many hindrances, the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:1, 2l NASB).
This letter [Hebrews] was written to Jewish Christians who were thinking about turning away from Christ and going back to following the Old Law because of the persecutions they had suffered for their faith in Jesus; they were, in effect, thinking about quitting the race because of hardships. What they needed was endurance. The writer exhorted them, “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35, 36). The reward comes at the end of the race — not at the halfway point, and certainly not for any who take themselves out of the race.
The Race Remaining. Again, let us be reminded that since none of us knows how long we have on earth, none of knows when we reach the ‘halfway’ point. But I do know this: Whatever time I have left is the only time I have! That being true, I need to use my time wisely! What should I be doing?
Making the best use of my time. The apostle Paul urged the Ephesians, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15, 16). The Greek word translated into our English words “redeeming the time” [NKJV] literally mean “improving opportunity.” Opportunity for what? I don’t think it would be a stretch to say an opportunity for doing what is pleasing to God!
If we acknowledge that it is God [our Father and Creator] we must please, then we would do best by seeking to know and do His will. Paul said as much when he wrote, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” And why would he make that his aim? He answers in the very next verse: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:9, 10). That is worth noting!
Since we don’t know how much time we have remaining, we should not just wait for opportunities to fall in our lap before we act. As someone once said, “If opportunity hasn’t knocked, it’s time to build a door.” Seek opportunities; create opportunities; do whatever we can to do the things that God expects of His people. Don’t wait for old Mr. Somebody Else to do what needs to be done; take the initiative and do what you can, when you can, everywhere and with everyone you can.
Pace yourself. As noted earlier, this race is more like a marathon than a sprint; speed is good for sprints, but we need endurance and patience. What we should be doing is what we should be doing throughout this earthly life; we don’t ‘sprint’ in this race [doing a lot when we are younger, to the point of burnout] and then sit back and watch while someone else does it when we get older.
There is a reason the apostle Paul wrote, again by Divine inspiration, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9); we sometimes grow weary and we sometimes “lose heart”! Do whatever we do with no expectations of praise or reward in return, or, as Jesus said, “love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High” (Luke 6:35).
Run in such a way you can be sure of your reward, as did the apostle Paul (2 Tim. 4:7, 8) — Steven Harper
