The first Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, in 776 B.C. Back then, athletes didn’t win medals, product endorsements or massive social media followings. They were awarded a kotinos (a wreath made from an olive tree) instead.
These wreaths didn’t have much monetary value, but they had enormous symbolic value. The winners of these coveted wreaths became legends after receiving the highest possible honor an athlete could at the time.
These Olympic athletes were (and still are) motivated by something that drove everything they did: The end result.
Similarly, Christians today are running a race. But we’re not striving for a physical, temporary crown. Our true reward is the crown of life promised in James 1:12, Revelation 2:10 and other verses.
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)
This requires faith because we’ve never seen this crown. We just trust that we’ll receive it if we keep “running our race” until the end. (Hebrews 12:1)
Need more encouragement? Keep reading to see real-life examples of people running their race and strengthening their faith.
Examples of Faith in Action
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith” or “Hall of Fame of Faith,” as it highlights figures from the Old Testament who persevered through trials by trusting in God’s promises. None of them received what had been promised, as it says in verse 39, but they were commended for their faith. They knew God had something better in store than anything they could find in this world.
Here are some specific examples this chapter mentions:
- Verse 7: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.”
- Verse 8: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
- Verses 24-25: “By faith Moses … chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.”
- Verse 29: “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”
- Verse 30: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.”
The list goes on. These people depended on their faith to get through so many difficult situations that we all deal with in life. Whether there was uncertainty, temptations or fear, these people chose to trust God and keep running their race despite their circumstances. Thus, they all displayed faith in action.
How We Can Run Our Race
Perspective is one of the most important things in life. When we have faith in certain truths — such as the fact that God is in control (Colossians 1:17), wants the best for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and has a part for us to play in his story (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) — then it makes it much easier to see temporary circumstances for what they are: temporary.
As believers, we must try to set our minds on things above and not on earthly things, as Colossians 3:1 instructs us. Here’s what that looks like from a practical perspective:
- Fleeing to God in prayer whenever a temptation comes your way.
- Reading the scripture every single day to feed your soul.
- Being in community with fellow believers to spur each other on.
- Worshipping and praising God even in the midst of pain and trials.
- Making decisions that are better for your spirit than your flesh.
When we live in faith, knowing that Jesus is coming again and that his kingdom is beyond anything to be gained on earth, it makes life easier and more manageable.
You might stumble during your race, but it doesn’t take away how far you’ve come. As long as you get back up again and keep going, you’ll be displaying faith in action. Set your focus on Jesus and the eternal reward his death on the cross offers us, and you’re sure to run your race well.
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