Sunday, December 19, 2010

Don’t stop running...

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, [Hebrews 12:1]

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I tend not to be an overly emotional person. [See November 26 – Superheroes] That isn’t completely true. If there is one thing that gets me emotional it’s seeing, hearing about and most of all participating in a victory in the face of strong opposition or adversity. I cry tears of joy when the outmanned, underfunded plucky good guys win. My heroes are not the top of the heap, über-successful leaders of the world; they are the second place, almost winners who fight for everything until that fateful day when once, and usually just once, they win it all!

That’s one of the reasons I became an entrepreneur. As a child I always had big dreams of getting rich (who doesn’t?) but my dreams where always peppered with a bit of real world understanding. I’ve never been the smartest guy in the room, I’m not the most hansom, or the most charismatic and I am certainly not the strongest. What I am is there, quietly going about my business, putting in the time and working hard. I may never win but I won’t ever quit either.

You see the first step to victory is to show up and play the game. If you want to get better, you show up to practise. Once you reach the top, and you want to stay there, you keep working. There is always a second place contender who is trying to knock the number one guy off. All it takes is one slip and number two becomes number one. The only thing better than seeing an underdog win is then seeing him fail, get back up and win again.

Steve Jobs at Apple Computer is at the top of the computer, internet and smart-phone world. He used to be an also ran in all three categories. That is until he worked harder than IBM, Microsoft and RIM. Is he smarter than Bill Gates? I doubt it. Did he work harder? You better believe it!

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Hebrews called for perseverance. The passage quoted above comes right after the so called “faith hall of fame” [Hebrews 11], which is a list of great men (and a few women) of God who persevered through hardship holding on to nothing more than a promise. Some won great victories but many died before they could see their vision become fully manifest. The end of the chapter sums it up nicely while not shrinking from that fact;

who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— [Hebrews 11:33-37]

2010 has been a rough year for me. We’re in a recession and business is down almost 15%. I nearly lost my house at the end of August, but I persevere. Not because I know for sure things will get any better in 2011 but because perseverance is the only thing I know.

As 2010 comes to a close my prayer for 2011 and each of you is that we may continue to run the race with perseverance, whatever that race may be and where ever it may take us, because we can’t claim a victory if we stop running.

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful observations! I am seeing that the time for passive, go with the flow lifestyle is passed. I am being more intentional and forward thinking with my desires and goals and I believe that Father God is pleased with that!
    Thanx for "Following" me!

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  2. Hi there Lauren,

    First of all I want to send best wishes for a very Merry Christmas. To almost lose your house is quite drastic so am glad you did not. Your words concerning perseverance are very timely. My name is Stanley and it means a rocky meadow and I read once that my name elicits a need for perseverance in life, I can attest to that. Take good care. Just reading Heb. 11:33-37 gives a sense of courage despite what we face.

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  3. The question you must ask yourself is which direction are you are running. If times are rough, would a better strategy not be to take your time, be at peace and therefore be a stable leader. Others look to you. During times of uncertainty, people tend to be like herd animals. If one takes off, the whole herd follows clueless as to why. When those others know that Jesus is a stabilizing force in your life, you will have a calming effect on them and they will have a similar effect on you:

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  4. well said Andrew - Of course the very next verse says to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

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  5. The idea is that when you can remain stable and everyone else is freaking out. Many people will want to know why.

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  6. A very rough year for me too! so long 2010 I hope I never see you again! When ever I want to crumble the Lord speaks to me "Take courage" so I do--times may be tough but as Christians we know that they may get much much tougher...our faith is and will be truely tested-God give us supernatural strenth--I think we are going to need it....the eminent return of Christ draws near! Please Lord help us do the things you want us to do and be what you want us to be and WE PRAY for the lost souls in our world and pray for the chance to bring others to Christ-amen

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