Revision as of 09:55, 6 October 2025

L&L 1962-8: The Young Believers' Department, ed. by Harold M. Harper, 1500 Woods Dr., Florence, SC: Running The Christian Race (Heb. 12:1-2) by Richard Edwin Burson of Hutchinson, Reno Co., Kansas

NOTICE three things about this race:

• 1) It is “set before us.”
• 2) It is “run with patience.”
• 3) It is run “looking unto Jesus.”

Now, let’s look at these three important ingredients in the Christian race. Paul tells us the race is set before us. That it is a prescribed course. The race is made evident in the Word of God. I have noticed that when young people do not read the Word of God for themselves and do not look to God to speak to them from His Word they always have a lot of problems they can not solve. The “Why can’t I do this?” Christian, and the “What is wrong with that?” Christian is always... without exception... the Christian who does not read the Scriptures, looking for what God would have them do.

Dear young people, if you are going to run this race you have no choice as to the course. The course has been laid out in the Word of God, and you either run on the track or you are out of the race. I know there are difficulties in the course. Did you ever see a hurdle race? Did you ever go to Fort Riley and see the obstacle course for trainees?Barrels, logs, fences, barbed wire, ditches, mud, a stream to cross... all on the obstacle course. The men who can run through all that are deemed strong enough to go on in the army.

God has an obstacle course. The trouble with some of you softies, instead of enduring as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, you have come to the first obstacle and you have sat down by the obstacle and prayed about it and contemplated it, and you have talked to others and they have prayed about it, but the obstacle is still there and so are you.

Now the way to get across an obstacle course is by starting out and letting nothing stop you. Mr. Bunyan has a character who was going on to the Celestial City, and he was a remarkable fellow whose name was Mr. Ready-to-halt. One time someone was talking to Mr. Ready-to-halt... was it Mr. Greatheart or was it Mr. Valiant, the old man with the big oaken staff, what was his name? I can’t remember, but the talk got around to how Mr. Ready-to-halt progressed, and I think his remark shows the depth of Mr. Bunyan’s great apprehensions of the Pilgrimage: “When I can I walk, when I can’t walk I crawl, but I do not stop from walking or crawling toward the Celestial City.”

That’s it. He was in the race for sure and that is the kind who win. That is the determination that shows Christ means something to the believer. When he can’t walk he crawls. He does not stop in despair at the obstacles. He does not consider his own lameness. He goes on. Have I told you of the African Christian who wrote a poem about the Christian life and the first verse of the twelve-stanza poem was: Go on, go on, go on, go on, Go on, go on, go on, Go on, go on, go on, go on, Go on, go on, go on,

And the other eleven verses were just like the first one! That man may have been no poet but he had gotten one of the most basic principles of Christianity. Go on! Keep going on for God. The second thing we learn about this race is How it is to be run, with patience. We all need this grace. You can not run this race impatiently. That will not do. You must run with patience, else it will not count as part of the race. The part you think you are running when you are not happy with God or with His people is not counted up as part of the race proper.

When people try to deter you or when they provoke you or injure you a good opportunity to bless them has presented itself. When Peter walked along his very shadow fell on some people and they were blessed and helped. Peter cast a shadow which shows he was walking in the light. No one casts shadows unless they are walking where the light shines.

I suppose the thing we are least conscious of is the shadow we cast. A man running a race would not be occupied with his shadow, but I am sure he would have a shadow. We can be a blessing even in little unconscious things if we only are going along in the light of God's Holy Word.

One of the most discouraging times of my life was when I lived in Salina, Kansas, and saw that my church connection was not what the Lord wanted for me, and if I were to continue in it when I saw it was wrong I would not be in the race. I got out of it... the denomination, not the race... and was under considerable censure from people who continued in what I felt I could not continue. Life was sad and burdensome and while I tried to do what my conscience in subjection to the Word of God taught me, it was not easy to have true believers in Christ criticize and show their unhappiness with me in various ways.

But a couple of years ago a man came to see me from India, and he wanted to tell me why he went to India and why he persevered there. I was amazed to learn that it all started when he saw what happened in Salina. He is today on the mission field, witnessing for Christ. Had you asked what good came from my troubles in Salina, I would have told you none at all.

But not so when obeying God. There is a shadow and we are not aware of it or what it does for others. Run with Patience! The only way to run with patience is found in the next verse: "Looking unto Jesus." There is no other way to run the race. Look at His obstacle course. Did He turn aside to some easier path? No, He went on to do the will of His Father. He said: "Without Me ye can do nothing." But with Him constantly guiding and supplying this race can be won.

Do not look at spectators.

Look unto Jesus.

Also See

• L&L 1960's & L&L 1950's

Sources

• Light and Liberty 1962-8, pp. 210-211