RUN TO WIN by RANDALL J. BREWER

“RUN TO WIN”

BY

RANDALL J. BREWER

Eric Liddel was a runner. He was a fast runner and he raced to win. He was also a missionary whose only purpose for running was to bring glory to God. 1 Cor. 9:24 was planted deep in his heart, “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.”

His relentless pursuit of the Olympic gold medal in the 1920’s was chronicled in the movie “Chariots of Fire.” The movie showed his inner struggle of not wanting to put his love of running before his love for God. Convinced that a gold medal would help him spread the gospel message to all who would listen, he ageed to run and ultimately won the highest Olympic prize in the 400 yard dash.

Eric Liddel was a rare breed of runner who personified the meaning of the word “champion.” He continually focused on what he believed to be his mission in life and he pursued this vision with everything he had.

One scene in the movie highlighted his vigor and his unwillingness to quit. At an event where he was in the audience to watch other runners race, his fans coaxed him to go down to the track and run with the others.

Reluctant at first so as not to show off his running ability, he finally agreed and soon following the loud burst from a gun signaled the start of the race. With fire in their feet and the wind to their backs each runner began the journey where at the end only one person would be crowned the winner.

As expected, Eric Liddel pulled to the front of the pack. Suddenly and to the surprise of all, this champion of a man stumbled and began to fall. Seconds seemed like hours as he hit the ground and tumbled to a halt.

Being only an exhibition most runners would have stood up, brushed the dirt off their clothes, and walked away. Not Eric Liddel. He was a champion and champions do not quit. Eric Liddel knew that anyone who put his hand to the plow and looked back was not worthy of the kingdom of God.

As if in slow motion he looked up only to see the backs of the other runners quickly widening the distance between himself and them. With determination in his eyes and courage in his heart he rose to his feet and began the impossible task of catching the others.

Eric Liddel knew that his God was the God of the impossible and with each step taken he drew closer and closer to the racers before him. Soon he passed one runner and then another. The ribbon ending the race was now in sight and as the seconds passed all the other runners found themselves in the awkward position of looking at the back of their national hero. Moments later Eric Liddel’s chest broke the ribbon and was declared the winner of what was for him only an exibition race.

Eric Liddel demonstrated in this race what it is like to be a born again believer. Tests and trials come to all Christians and sometimes we slip and fall. There is, however, no shame in falling as long as you pick yourself up and continue the race. Eric Liddel was a man who would not accept defeat whether it be in athletics or day-to-day living and neither should we.

Ps. 37:23,24 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” A similar verse is found in Micah 7:8, “Do not rejoice when I fall, my enemy; When I fall, I shall arise; When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.”

In 2 Tim. Paul was endeavoring to encourage his young protégé to have the same non-quitting spirit that was in the heart of Eric Liddel. He knew that success was in Timothy’s future. Hab. 2:3a says, “For the vision is yet for an apointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.”

When God gives you a vision He’ll show you what the end result will be. However, He rarely reveals to us what happens between “I believe I receive” and “there it is” because He does not discouragement to grip our hearts. To combat this temptation to quit and give up we must learn to see as God sees.

Most definitely, God always sees the end from the beginning. Heb. 12:2b says this about Jesus, “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” Jesus saw the end from the beginning. Likewise, Eric Liddel always pictured himself crossing the finish line first.

In Judges 6:12 the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and called him “a mighty man of valor.” Gideon was reluctant to accept this honorable description of himself. He was afraid of his own shadow and considered himself the least of his brethren. In his own eyes he was a big, fat zero. Thankfully, God sees something in all of us that we can’t see ourselves.

This is why we must all see as God sees. God calls you a champion before you ever become one. He calls you healed when your body is riddled with sickness and disease. He calls you prosperous when bill collectors are knocking at your door. Gideon learned this valuable lesson and when he did he went from being a zero to a hero. We learn from Gideon to open our eyes and see what God sees. When you do you may be surprised at what you see.

Before Gideon accepted the call on his life he askd the Angel why his country was so downtrodden if the Lord in fact was with them. The Angel didn’t answer this question. He said to go and do what God tells you to do. Stop asking questions! Just go and get the job done!

One of the greatest enemies of God is procrastination. Jesus told the disciples to feed the multitude but they hesitated. At first they didn’t do what Jesus told them to do. The miracle happened when they put actions to what Jesus said and began to pass out the loaves and the fishes. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do the thing and you’ll have the power to do it.” This is what was in Paul’s heart as he tried to encourage Timothy to catch a vision of the potential he had inside of himself.

God is a big God and He gives His children big dreams. Dreams put fuel in your tank and gives you the energy to fulfill your call. It gives you the desire to press on to do what other men cannot do. It gives you “staying power” to grow strong and not quit in the midst of your adversity.

Many people let go of their dreams because they don’t want to pay the price. Paul knew we can’t be successful for God without a Godly dream and there was no way he was going to let Timothy pack his bags and quit. He was saying in this letter, “If you’re going to run in the race then give it everything you’ve got. Run to win!”

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). There is no room for cowards in the kingdom of God and this is why God said in Joel 3:9,10, “Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords and your prininghooks into spears; Let the weak say ‘I am strong.’”

The Message Bible records Paul’s words this way, “When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did.” Paul was militaristic and barbaric in his call and he was telling Timothy to get out there on the battlefield and if you have to suffer then suffer.

Paul then said, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things” (2:5-7).

An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere and it’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Timothy was a man involved in a great competition and Paul was telling him to have the commitment of a soldier, prepare like an athlete, and work like a farmer.

He was saying work! work! work! and work hard! hard! hard! Labor to the point of sweat and tears. And when you rise up like an eagle and face your storm, God promises that you will partake of all the blessings that come as the result of being a servant of God.

In the Bible an eagle is a symbol for the born-again believer (Deut. 32:11; Is. 40:29-31). An eagle has hollow bones which helps this magnificent bird to negotiate the wind currents causing it to hover and soar in the air with hardly any effort at all.

When violent storms come the eagle does not seek refuge in the branches of a huge tree or under an outcrop of solid rock. No, he flies to the highest point possible, turns, and faces the storm. When the storm arrives the strong wind currents lifts the eagle up and takes it higher and higher into the heavenlies.

Eagles have been seen at 33,000 feet up where jet airplanes fly. Because of the storm he becomes a stronger bird and Paul is telling all of us that when the storm clouds of life cast their dark shadows over our heads to face the storm and fear not.

The greatest danger in your spiritual life is security. We all need to live on the cutting edge of insecurity because the dreams God gives us are much bigger than what we’re able to accomplish on our own. If they weren’t then we’d never know what faith is.

One of the most important lessons Jesus taught His disciples was not to fear. Satan is a corrupted angel and fear is corrupted faith. It is the substance of things not desired. On one occasion Jesus and His disciples were on a boat in the midst of a storm and to the dismay of all the others who were in fear, Jesus was sound asleep.

This fact alone conveys the message that storms are not a cause for alarm with Jesus on board. Isaiah 54:14 says, “In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you.”

Storms are not a cause for fear or panic for the born-again believer and with Jesus on board you can have the bold confidence to stand up and face your storm. A cattle rancher in Montana made a discovery that taught him a lesson for living a victorious life.

The winters in Montana are brutal and only the strong and hardy cattle can survive. This rancher observed that the cattle who marched head first into the blizzard always survived while the cattle who turned their tails to the storm died. The rancher found this breed frozen against a barbed wire fence with their heads down whereas he found the other cattle who faced the storm alive and well, strong survivors. With Jesus on board you can face your storm and fear not. Ps. 118:6 says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

The storms of life come to prevent the forward progress of the work of God that’s being done in and through the lives of all willing believers. If tests and trials are raging against you then this can be a joyful testimony that you are in the process of doing something good for the kingdom of God.

Victory is assured and the winds will cease when you realize that storms are in reality your stamp of approval that you are indeed flowing in the will of God for your life.

Phil. 1:28 (AMP) says, “And do not for a moment be frightened or intimidated in anything by you opponents and adversaries, for such constancy and fearlessness will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of their impending destruction; but a sure token and evidence of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.”

There is never any forward motion without resistance and if you are to continue to be a vessel of honor for the Lord you must never let a storm delay your plans and interfere with the calling on your life.

Matt. 14:25 records how Jesus in another storm walked out to the boat where His disciples were at in spite of the horrific conditions around Him. The blowing wind and pounding rain did not interfere with what He set out to do.

Did you ever wonder why Jesus did not calm the storm before He set out on His journey to walk across the lake? The answer is simple. Jesus always walked in faith and faith never looks at the circumstances.

Peter, on the other hand, also stepped out in faith and walkd on the water. He was operating successfully until he began to consider the natural circumstances that were round about him. He took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at that which was contrary to what he was believing for. He looked at the wind instead of the water beneath him which was by faith holding him up.

It was at this moment when fear and doubt entered in and immediately the impulsive Peter began to sink. Moments later, after being rescued by Jesus, Peter’s faith returned and he walked back to the boat cling desperately to his Lord.

Here in this story is the contrast between being a winner and a loser. Winners always look to where they’re going “to” whereas losers always look at what they’re going “through.” Jesus was looking at His destination on the other side of the lake while Peter looked at the stormy conditions which he thought was able to prevent him from accomplishing what he set out to do.

Jesus faced His storm and Peter did not. Peter can be commended, however, for his desire to be with the Lord and knowing where to turn for help when the need arose. If only more of us would learn this lesson.

Even more important, to be sure, is the lesson Jesus wants us to learn from what He did. Jesus wants us to get out of the boat and walk in His plan for our lives while not considering the contrary circumstances that the storms of life are sure to bring. Remember, in the midst of the storm is where Jesus was and He is looking for followers who will step out of the security of their boat and follow Him.

Do not be terrified when the odds seem to be against you and don’t give up the first time a door is slammed in your face. Become like David who with bold confidence ran toward the giant Goliath. When the storms of life come your way you need to get stirred up, get out of your boat, and use your faith. This only happens when you have the courage to rise up and face your storm. If a herd of cattle in Montana can do it, surely you can to.

Paul faced his storm and yes, he finished his race. He wrote in 2 Tim. 4:6, “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 me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

The Message Bible says, “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting - God’s applause!” What a great way to end a life!






PRAISE GOD
BLESSED BE THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD