In 1897, 15 individuals lined up for the first annual 26.2 mile footrace in Boston, Massachusetts - The B.A.A. Boston Marathon!

John McDermott from New York won that day in a time of 2:55:10 

(6:41 per mile).

The number of runners has grown to 38,000 today!  In 2018 Yuki Kawauchi from Japan won in 2:15:58 (5:11 per mile).  The course record was set in 2011 by Geoffrey Muti of Kenya in a time of 2:03:02 (4:41 per mile).

This year in April there will be thousands who have trained, qualified and will be toeing the line to race this historic 26.2 mile footrace.  Why?  What is the motivation?  To win?  To be number one?  There will be only one who wins the race, so does that mean the other 37, 999 runners are losers?!  Absolutely not!  From the first place to the last place - all will be considered winners!  Each one will have run their best on that day and finished the course!  Each one will have sacrificed and trained for this day. All the sacrifice, all the hours will have been worth it - they finished the course set before them!  The bible uses the running analogy to the Christian race.  The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 reminds us, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it…the prize…now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” 

(cf. verses 24-27)  For the Christian what is the prize?  Heaven!  Only through the person and work of Jesus Christ can we enter in!  But as Christians, as Christ followers we are to Run in such a way!  The call of God to salvation through Jesus Christ is our motivation to be more like Christ.   To run is such a way is to give Jesus the best of our time, talent and resources!

In His Service,

Pastor Rodney