There he was onthe side of the road dressed in his Uncle Sam costume waving his tax sign.About 50 foot away was another Uncle Sam waving; no he was not waving he wasdoing something else altogether with his sign. His sign had become and airguitar and he was playing as if he we on a stage with 5000 fans jumping up anddown. The only problem with that is there were no fans just passing cars; youmay have missed the first Uncle Sam but no one was missing the second one. Themusic he was playing was silent to all that passed by, his guitar was invisible,it was only a sign turned sideways. Paul said in
1Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run,not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: What isPaul talking about? My Pastor of long ago taught me that every time you see theword “therefore” see what it’s therefore. Great advice, if we back up a fewverses we can easily see why it’s there.
1Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that theywhich run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye mayobtain. Paul says don’t you knowthat the runners in a race are all running to receive the prize. So we asChristians should do the same thing that we obtain.
1Corinthians 9:25 And every man thatstriveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it toobtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. And every one ofthe runners wants to be the winner and they are all running to obtain acorruptible prize. So I myself run, but I’m not running without a clear goalahead of me so I box, but I’m not shadow boxing; I’m not just beating the air.Or in other words I’m not playing a guitar sign that makes no noise. Paul saysI’m running with cheerfulness and swiftness looking to Jesus continuing in myfaith and duty as a Christian preaching the Gospel. Paul says I’m not wastingmy time beating the air fighting shadows, instead I fighting real enemies myworldly desires and my fleshly lust that I may be a winner. Could it be that toomany just say oh well I tried and I guess that’s just the way I am? Sure wewere all born with sinful desires like selfishness, anger, doubt, loose tonguesand the list could go on and on, but Paul says we are to fight against thosethings on a daily bases. I have noticed runners in a race and not one time haveI seen them making fun of the one running next to them. They are not there tomake fun they are there to run the race that is before them. There are thingsabout all of us that someone can make light of but we must remember that we arenot here to make fun of each other, but to run the race that is set before us.Are you ready to run or make an excuse why you can’t run; don’t you want to beas Paul said one that obtains? Then run!
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing wealso are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay asideevery weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us runwith patience the race that is set before us,
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesusthe author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was setbefore him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the righthand of the throne of God.
