Recently I had an opportunity to listen to a briefing for Iron Man competitors the day before the race. This particular race Included more than 70 miles of swimming, biking and running. What I found interesting about the briefing was the detailed route and rules racers were required to follow. Deviating from either would get you disqualified or cause you to incur a time penalty.
It reminded me of Hebrews 12:1. In this verse we are told: “let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” God has given each of us a course to follow in our life. We must stay focused on that course, following God’s plan and his guidance as laid out in His Word. Deviating from either can cause us problems and throw us off course.
It also means that at times we must change how we navigate the course God has given us. Like the Iron Man race, sometimes we must swim, other times bike or run. Even though we are comfortable doing one thing, God may call us to change how we pursue his course. Not following God’s lead would be like like trying to complete the swimming portion of the Iron Man race with a bike.
God’s love and grace for us is immense. At times he stretches our abilities to the point where we may feel he wants us to do the impossible. Yet he trains us for each leg of the race he has set out for us. We must run the race he has given us, not someone else’s race. We must try to avoid the distractions and sin that can throw us off course and “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
© 2021, CGThelen
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12:2-3
140 Character Christian 
Amen! Your title reminds us of the significance of understanding and believing the Gospel. We need the perseverance of a triathlon athlete in our faith journey.
For sure. I like Revelation 21:7 in the NASB translation because it uses the word overcome: “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.”
Blessings.
Thanks for sharing the “overcome.”
Good outline for spiritual AND physical races!
Good point. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.