You Can't Win If You Don't Run!

T

he story of the Scotsman, Eric Liddell, was immortalized in the movie “Chariots of Fire” released in the early 1980’s.  Liddell had a natural talent for running, a talent that culminated in victory at the 1924 Olympic Games held in Paris where he won a gold medal in the 400 meters in record time.  The movie, while including this wonderful accomplishment, also traces the development of one of Liddell’s most ardent rivals, Harold Abrams, himself a wonderful and capable athlete.

At one point in the film, the two men are introduced as they race against each other.  Abrams is confident he can defeat Liddell but at the end of the day, Abrams loses.  One of the most poignant scenes in the entire movie finds Abrams sitting in the stands, looking over the track, replaying the race in his mind.  Repeatedly, he sees Liddell crossing the finish line ahead of him.  For the first time, Abrams experiences defeat and it proves devastating, especially to his ego. 

His girlfriend and future wife joins him in the stands and attempts to salve his wounds.  “I lost,” quips Abrams, to which she replies, “I know.  I was there!”  She continues by assuring him he was “wonderful” but that Liddell was “more wonderful.”  This doesn’t seem to help poor Harold and understandably so!  Due to this one setback, he determines to quit saying, “I won’t run if I can’t win!”  This elicits the following from the love of his life, “You can’t win if you don’t run!”

Ouch!  That smarts!  But she is right on target.  Harold’s question is one of the will.  He decides that since he lost one time, there is no sense in continuing—he won’t run if he can’t win.  Her statement is one of fact, he can’t win if he doesn’t run—it’s just that simple.  Abrams comes to the realization that she is right.  The ability to win is only possible if he runs.  It is utterly impossible if he remains on the sidelines and licks his wounds!

Christ did not come and die for us to sit on the sidelines and lick our wounds! He did not come so we could abandon the race and throw in the towel at the first sign of difficulty or disappointment.  He came so that we could run, keep on running, and finish the race.

This fact is summed up wonderfully by the writer of the book of Hebrews.  In Hebrews 11, we are introduced to the members of the Faith Hall of Fame!  Everyone listed here was inducted through the demonstration of his/her faith and they all had set backs and disappointments.  They did not, however, throw in the towel, lick their wounds, or take their toys and go home.  No!  They stayed the course, they ran the race, and they crossed the finish line!

Hebrews 12:1 echoes the advice given by Abrams girlfriend above, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The last twelve words of this passage hit home don’t they?  The writer is clear, we are to continue the race, no matter the cost, no matter how challenging the course, no matter the weather, no matter the distance, no matter the competition.  We are to run with perseverance—that means running continually, never stopping, never giving up, never losing our focus—until the race is complete.  God has marked the race out for us.  He designed the course, he knows we can finish it, and he provides the strength and the endurance so we can do just that.

In order to see the race to its end, we must determine to run it.  There will be difficulty along the way, that is a given, but there will be no cause to abandon the race.  We can win the race (winning means finishing) if we run it; but if we choose not to run we can’t finish it.  The choice is ours.  To run or not to run, that is the question.  What will your answer be today?