By Pastor Mark Hopper

Pastor Mark Hopper

When I was in high school, I enjoyed playing several different sports.  My parents discouraged me from playing football, so I opted for cross-country in the fall.  I was not the top runner at our high school, but I did manage to earn a varsity letter my sophomore year.

Distance running is a lot more popular today, and it is common to see people jogging through neighborhoods and along the main streets in our community.

Many people now participate in 26-mile marathon races.  In fact, the Los Angeles Marathon is coming again in a few weeks.  Thousands of runners will fill the city streets and thousands of fans will line the sidewalks to watch them.

When I ran cross-country many years ago, it was one of the loneliest sports in school.  Five runners from each school would participate in the race and there were usually fewer spectators than actual runners!

I grew up in Arizona, so it was common for the race course to wander along desert paths lined with cactus instead of people.  There might be a few people at the starting line and a few at the finish line, but there were no cheerleaders or marching bands to urge us on.

The basic principle in long distance running is, “don’t stop.”  You have to keep on moving, keep on trying and keep on running.

There were times when you just felt like stopping and giving up.  Your muscles would get tired and your feet would get sore.  It was tempting to just stop and not run anymore.

I was not the fastest member of our team. I actually only won one race when I was in high school, and that was on the JV team.  But it was thrilling to win the race and be the first to cross the finish line!

In many ways, life is like a long distance race.  You have to keep on running and never give up.  You may be exhausted and feel like stopping, but you have to keep on going.  You may be involved in a difficult project at work or school and feel like you are ready to give up.  Don’t!  Keep your eye on the finish line and keep on going!

There is a verse in the Bible, in Hebrews 12:1, which says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  The author is using the image of the ancient Greek games where thousands of spectators cheered the athletes in the sports arena.  But, the author is applying the analogy to our everyday life and faith.  Keep on running. Don’t give up.

Whatever you are facing in life, keep on going, and don’t give up.  And, encourage those around you that may be weary and discouraged to keep on going, too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Ave. Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit http://www.efreedb.org.