Perseverance

I doubt many people would recognize the names of Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco) Ronaldo da Costa (Brazil). But when we add the following information: Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco) ran the Chicago Marathon, Illinois, USA, in a record 2 hrs. 5 min. 42 sec. on October 24, 1999. He took 23 seconds off the previous record, set by Ronaldo da Costa (Brazil) on September 20, 1998, we get a clear picture of their achievement. To acheive his record time Khalid spent many lonely hours on the road running day after day in preparation the Chicago marathon. His perseverance reaped the reward of setting the record time of 2 hrs. 5 min. 42 sec.

I looked on the Internet to see if there was a training schedule for a person who wanted to start from not running at all to running in a marathon. I found there were two buildup schedules. The first started with running 4 miles on Sunday, resting on Monday, 3 miles on Tuesday, resting on Wednesday, 4 miles on Thursday, resting on Friday, and finally running 3 miles on Saturday. That was the first week of Schedule 1 so you start running 14 miles in the first week. Wow! I looked for a build up to the build up program and there was none. That, coupled with the following statement, “At the conclusion of week 19, assuming you have made it through the mileage buildup stage without injury, you are now ready to proceed to the Marathon training Schedule (Schedule II), caused me to question my commitment.

Then I wondered, now many of us consider and pursue our walk with Christ with the diligence required of a marathon. Our walk with Christ is no less demanding. It requires dedicating time to study God’s word, evaluating our progress and dedicating ourselves to strive for excellence. We need to be the best we can be but our goal is not a world record or a gold medal or even to run in the Chicago Marathon. Our goal is to reflect the glory of God to a lost world. Our goal is to be conformed into the image of Christ so he gets the glory. Our goal is to serve Christ in whatever capacity we are called to serve. Our goal is to “lay aside every weight, and sin which so easily ensnares us and run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1) The more we grow, the more we reflect the image of Christ, the more glory God gets as we live our lives. As we go through difficult times in our lives, times we need to persevere, we should remember the words of the Apostle Paul, “….tribulations brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”(Romans 5:3-5) That hope is easily recognized by all who see it.

Are there rewards? Paul told Timothy, “6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” James says, ““12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12).

To produce one pound of honey, the bee must visit approximately 56,000 heads of clover. Each head contains 60 flower tubes, a total of 3, 360,00 visits are necessary to give us that pound of honey for the breakfast table. Meanwhile, that worker bee has flown the equivalent of three times around the world.

To produce one tablespoon of honey for our toast, the little bee makes 4,200 trips to flowers. He makes about 10 trips a day to the fields, each trip last an average of twenty minutes and he will visit about 400 flowers. A worker bee will fly as far as eight miles if he cannot find a nectar flow that is nearer. God designed the bee so he is equipped and capable of performing his God given task. How much more will God do for those whom He created in His image and who diligently persevere under trial?

The Foundry

When love undaunted flies against the wind.
Prevailing through our deepest, darkest hours.
As again, amidst the furnace flames we're placed,
Each wave of flame and heat has its effect.

Brilliant colors burst in view to quickly fade,
Each marks a change to what is cast within.
Never to be again what once it was.
For once removed it cannot be the same.

A watchful eye adjusts the foundry's flames
As evenly the fire's heat warms every side.
The dross removed, new metal now appears
Emerging with the strength of tempered steel.

Repeatedly we're placed within the flames,
Different each time from when our trials began..
Strengthened by every pain we have endured.
The foundry proof of life renewed.