"Keep your eyes on Jesus!"

Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Hebrews 12 The Message

In his meditation today, the Reverend Bob Dannals uses the quote above from The Message Bible to describe the importance of keeping on keeping on in the pilgrim's journey. He also quotes Scott Peck to emphasize the necessity of moving on and growing: "life is a journey, a race that has been set before us with a goal to love more and to serve more.” and he concludes by suggesting that we ask ourselves at the end of every day..."am I any farther on?"

There is a lot of race imagery in scripture my favorite of which is from 2 Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I used to be a racer; I ran road races and I was a competitive swimmer. This meditation reminded me of the adrenaline rush that comes as a competitor appears in your peripheral vision and spurs you to give that extra kick to move ahead.

What gives us that adrenaline rush today as we "start running and never quit?" What voice says "Keep going, you can do it, kick a little harder"? And where is the finish line? What is the prize? How do you know you are "farther on"?

Peck says that the prize is loving more and serving more; Second Timothy says it is keeping the faith. I think it is the peace that passes all understanding and seeing the face of Jesus in all people.

What is in your peripheral vision that spurs you on? What is your goal? What is your prize?

What a great way to "start running" every day. Keep your eyes on the prize!

The story of Eric Liddell comes to mind. Run my friends, run and never quit. Keep your eyes on Jesus!