Whether our 'fight/race' takes us to the Olympics, Ottawa,
across the world or close to home, the ultimate finish line is the same!
Face to face with He who is the author and perfecter of Faith!
This is not for nothing
This race of faith we run
For all who remain faithful
Will hear God say 'well done'
Though full of test and trouble
This race of faith we run
Is for the joy still waiting
When God will say 'well done'
Then, though we may grow weary
We spur each other on
So we may all be present
To hear God say, 'well done'
Could any Prize be sweeter
After faith's race is run
Than to behold faith's author
And hear Him say, 'well done'
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb.12:1-2
In the Olympics, competitors see the finish-line or at least its proximity...
not so with faith; faith is certain of what it cannot see!
Heb.11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen....
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Oh God, you know our first impulse is not to honor You
Human nature is not humbly inclined to pray things through
Faith is the substance of things hoped for before we receive
Where we would rather touch, taste, see, hear, smell, than just believe
To keep desire tamed and tuned to righteousness and peace
Requires us to seek You first for love’s faultless increase
The Mystery of things not seen confuses and deceives
If first impulse prevails and doubts You rather than believes
The greatest of these, love, adapts to every shape and size
Where the race set before us does not guarantee the prize
The Author and Perfecter of faith helps us to achieve
The victory only if we love, obey and believe
Oh God, You know our first impulse inclines to vindicate
When confronted with evil injustice of greed and hate
Help us to love our enemies lest we Thy Spirit grieve
For the joy set before us let us endure and believe
Let faith fuel in us an Olympian energy
To run toward the Evidence we know but cannot see
God, free us from the sin that would a worldly view perceive
Fuel us with the certainty You give when we believe
© Janet Martin
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I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!