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June 2009, Page 6.
Index of articles:
by subject,
by date.
In this issue:
(June 2009)
Trinity,
Prayer,
Question,
Song,
Chorltons.
Run, run, run!
Run, run, run,
there's a race to be run,
there's a prize to be won
at the end;
so run for the prize:
you can win if your eyes
are on Jesus,
your trainer and friend.
In a race they all train
for a crown that will fade,
and their fitness will soon pass away;
but in Christ we will reign
in a kingdom that's made
to endure beyond earth's little day.
So ...
Run, run, run ...
See the crowd all around
who are cheering you on,
all the saints who have proved God is true!
Get your feet on the ground,
set your eyes on the one
who endured cross and shame just for you.
So ...
Run, run, run ...
At the end of the race
there's a victory crown
for the ones who have fought the good fight,
and the Judge in his grace
with the saints gathered round
will award it, with trumpets and light.
So ...
Run, run, run ...
Words and music copyright © John Hartley 2009. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine was leading the church service at Curry Mallet (near Taunton) where the annual Marathon was to be run, and they had decided to make “The Race” into the theme of the Sunday morning service. So did I have a suitable hymn?
“Do you have any suitable bible verses?” was my question to him. Yes - the bible compares the Christian life to a race in quite a few places: 1 Cor 9:24-25, 1 Tim 4:7-10, 2 Tim 2:5, 2 Tim 4:6-8 and Hebrews 12:2 for a start. Put your back into living your live for Jesus, says St Paul, and keep your eyes on him, and remember what he did for you as you struggle through the hard times, and resolve to win the race - because you really can do it if you keep single-mindedly aiming at the prize.
So I thought I’d take three of these and turn them into short verses. Personally I find the one in 2 Timothy the most encouraging - Paul can look back on his life, in which he’s managed a fair bit (more than I will manage) - but the crown is for all those who have longed for Christ’s appearing. Even for limping athletes like me there is the crown! So let’s run for it!
John Hartley