I hate running.  Let’s just get that out there.  I’m all about running in short sprints like in an Ultimate game or around the yard in a game of “duck, duck, goose” but running any distance for the fun if it is not my thing.  Even though I have a distaste for running I really appreciate some of the pictures we took at camp this summer.

I like how these pictures tell a story all on their own.

Luke is focused.  His eyes are locked on the prize and nothing is going to stop him. Not even a blast in the face from Tosh!

Caleb is running with a purpose.  He is aware of his surroundings and is ready to make a change in direction as needed.

I love the contrast between Jeremiah and Nora.  Jeremiah is running as fast as he can, any which way he can.  Nora is also running fast, but with structure and discipline.

Read Hebrews 12:1-3.  Go to www.biblegateway.com and look up the verses in a couple of different translations.  Take a moment to reflect on how those verses relate to you.

Think about running a marathon (not that I am speaking from experience).  You train, you get the right clothing, you make sure you eat a good breakfast and stay hydrated.  Regardless on how prepared you are, you get tired while running.  At some point you might even want to quit.  You become hot, sticky, out of breath, worn out and tired.

How true is that is our relationship with Jesus?   We start out right.  We go to camp, make commitments, leave camp with the right tools, and start the school year ready to conquer the world.  Yet somewhere along the way we get tired.  Problems arise with parents, friends expect us to act a certain way, everyday life steps in and suddenly we are tired and camp seems so far away.  God seems far away and we want to quit.

The race of our faith may not seem as fun as it did at camp, but the writer of Hebrews gives us encouragement.

1. “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses”(Hebrews 12:1).  You are surrounded by camp friends, counselors, staff members who care.  I know that at home some of you have parents, pastors, church families, youth groups who care.

2. “Let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1). I’m going to assume it is not easy to run a race with a big puffy winter coat on.  Nor is it easy to run with a rope around your knees.  Yet we try to live like Christ followers with sin in our lives that we don’t want to get rid of.  We need to get rid of the sin. Confess it to God and ask someone to hold you accountable as you walk away from it.

3. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). It’s really that simple.  When you are struggling with your faith, remember why you made a commitment in the first place.  Jesus went to the cross for your sins, died so you didn’t have to.  What he suffered is far worse than what you are going through.  Fixing your eyes on Jesus reminds us what we started running for in the first place.

I think the reason I don’t like running is because I get tired quickly.  It doesn’t become fun when I can’t breathe and the sweat tickles as it drips down my face.  I can’t imagine marathon runners think it is fun but they do.  Maybe if I had a goal to my running it would be worth it.

Take a moment to ask yourself,  what kind of a faith runner are you?  Do you tire quickly and want to drop out when life is too hard?  Or do you run like you are in it for the long haul?  Do you run the race of faith with your eyes focused on Jesus?

Why run? Because God has called us to have a relationship with Him.  He has a plan it is worth the journey.    So “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).