Run The Race // Homecoming, Part 1 [Devo]

Run The Race

Homecoming, Part 1
When I was in high school, I ran cross country. I stand at 5 feet 11 inches, and my long legs gave me an advantage, especially on the downhills, where my stride could reach its full potential. Training for these 3.1 mile races meant daily, grueling, long-distance runs that would stretch three to four times the distance of the race in order to build endurance and perseverance. I was a fast runner, generally finishing in the front-running pack. Ironically, I hated running.

In the middle of the race, my lungs would ache, my legs and arms were heavy, wanting to recoil and rest — all I wanted to do was give up. Cross country is a sport that requires mental toughness and the ability to see past the struggle of the immediate to gain the prize. In the midst of the pain, I would picture the finish line, envisioning the triumph and the relief that crossing that line would allow. And it would work… I knew that I was in this race and a vital part of the team, that I had a role to fill and a job to do while I was running, but that there was an end coming, and it held sweet relief.

This past Sunday, Pastor Tim introduced “Homecoming,” which is a collection of talks focused on heaven. In this first talk, he asked the question, “Why is there a need for heaven?”

As Tim put it, “The simple answer is that heaven is important because this world is broken and under a curse because of sin.” Even creation itself is longing to be made new.

In Romans 8:19-23, we read what Paul had to say about what was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit:
“For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it — in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies."

The finish line we are longing for will be even better than we can imagine.

When I read this, it makes me think about the pain and hardship we experience now. It feels like we are in the middle of a race, and everything hurts. To keep going is hard. But, the finish line that we are longing for will be even better than what we can imagine. 1 Peter 1:3-5 says:
“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  According to His great mercy,  He has given us a new birth  into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by God’s power  through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
As Paul so aptly describes in Hebrews 12, let us run our race with endurance, keeping our eyes on Jesus. If you don’t know Christ, I hope this series stirs you to seek Him — it’s only through Jesus that we can have a future beyond this life. If you already have a relationship with Christ, I want to encourage you to keep going — to strain forward for what lies ahead
(Philippians 3:12-14).
Author: Brandy Gibson, Creative Director
Posted in

Recent

Archive

Categories

Tags

1 Timothy 4:3-4 1 corinthians 13 3 tips Abraham Barb Bible Christ centered friendships Christ-centered friendships Christ Control David Deuteronomy 31:8 Elijah Gideon God's Word God's faithfulness God's will God\'s Word God\'s will God\\\'s will God\\\\\\\'s will Gods Word Gods voice Gods will God Good Samaritan Isaac Isaiah 41 James 1:22 James 4:14 Jesus is coming Jesus Jonathan Josiah Live at Peace Matthew 26:38-39 Old Testament Paul Philippians 2 Psalms Romans 6:9 Saul Savior Scripture Significant Others Talented Word of God You Say a mother's prayer a mother\'s prayer a mothers prayer abandon abby conner absolute truth acts 1:8 acts 2:42-47 acts adam and eve adam etris adam adulteror advent alls well that ends well andrew archer andrew angels sing anger anguish anxiety apostles appreciation archer arch are you prepared art of neighboring attributes austin michels austin authorities authority baptism barabbas barb banhart barb barnhart barnhart be a friend be still be strong and courageous be transformed beauty from ashes becoming fearless believers believe betrayal better neighbors better be brandy gibson brandy broken bronze serpant bruce lane bruce cancel culture cancel care carols celebrate others christian life christianity christian christmas with the ridge christmas church defined church design church circles cleaning the temple clinging to jesus colossians 1:13 community compassion concentric circles conflict connection courage created for community crisis in israel cross crowd crucifixion cultivate the soil daughter death debt delaney deuteronomy 31:6 devotional devotion disagreement discernment do not fear doers don't panic don\'t panic do early church easter sunday easter elderly empathy encouragement end times endurance ephesians 3:14-23 ephesians5:21 eternal impact eternal king eternal life eternal security eternity etris exhausted extended family face to face faithful in the small things faithfulness faith family famous last words father fear less series fear less fearless fear foretold forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving forsaken foundation four tips free from sin freedom freely given free friendships friendship friends friend garden of gethsemane generosity generous get ready getting along gibson gifts give thanks gloria good enough good friday good works gospel government grace and truth grace hill grace grateful gratitude great commission greed grief grieve with others groups haring he has come he will be called heart heaven hell helping hill holy monday holy saturday holy tuesday holy wednesday holy week homecoming hondruas honduras hope huggins ian young ian identity immovable in all things in christ inspired invitation israel jamie huggins jamie jill wargo jill john 8:1-11 john 8:10-11 john josh rhodes josh joy judas judgemental judgement judge katie lemley katie key relationships kim sheets kim kingdom of heaven king kinsman redeemer know the truth la ceiba lamb of God lane last supper legacy lemley life light of the world light listening live generously living intentionally living water logos love one another love loyalty luke 10:42 luke 23:34 made new manna marriage martha matthew 22:37-39 matthew 23:24 matthew 6:3-4 maundy thursday mediator melissa parker melissa mercy michelle lemley michelle trimmer michelle michels mission trip missions money morality moses neighbor new family new year new o holy night ourselves overcome evil with good palm sunday parables parable parenting parents parent parker passover lamb passover path of life peacemaker peace people of god people perfecter perfector perserverance perseverance persistence philippians 4:6-7 philippians pioneer point of church point possessions power of the past pray like paul prayer life prayer plan prayer pray prepare promises of God provision psalm 139 purpose quality time race read reconciliation recreated redeemed redeemer redemption rejoice relationship with God relationships relationship relative truth religion religious leaders remember response resurrection retaliation return revenge rhodes riches roger sealey roger role model romans 12:12 romans 12:15 romans rules sacrifice salvation sealey second coming secure seek the truth selfish separation sermon on the mount serve Jesus serve others serve serving others serving set free shame share the gospel share the truth sharing the good news sheep and goats sheets signs sing sin social media sower speaking the truth speak spiritual gifts spiritual leaders spiritual relationships spring cleaning stand firm stillness still strained straining out gnats and swallowing camels strength submit substitutionary atonement support surrender take time talents tender heart thankfulness thanksgiving thanks the dishonest manager the good samaritan the lost coin the lost sheep the lost son the parables of jesus the persistent widow the plot the point of church the primary purpose of the church the prodigal son the purpose of the church the rich fool the sheep and goats the sower the talents the ten virgins the two foundations the wedding banquet the word of God the word through thick and thin throught thick and thin tim haring tim transformation treasure tribulation triggered trimmer trustworthy truth about people truth is truth matters truthiness truth two foundations two lies and the truth ukraine unbelievers uncertainty unclean victorious victory volunteer wargo wealth wedding feast weep what's the point? what\'s the point? what\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s the point? whats the point whatsthepoint when we pray who am i who i am who we are work worry wronged you are forgiven young