Notes of Faith January 26, 2026
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
July 16, 2000
“THE GOAL AHEAD”
Hebrews 12:1, 2
Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Here we have the formula for winning the ancient races for the first century runners in the Olympics. In addition to stripping off the excess clothing , a runner was to concentrate on the goal ahead of him. A fraction of a second of distraction could cost a runner the precious time he needed to cross the finish line first. This could be looking behind him or just a glance at the runner alongside. It was a test of endurance and concentration on the goal toward which he was running.
Even so our Christian life is a race. Every one of us who are in Christ is running in order to finish the race. The formula for us is the same as for those involved in the Olympics. Sin and weights that pull us down in our lives are to be stripped off. This requires some earnest soul searching and good old fashioned honesty. Then we need to concentrate on the goal ahead of us - fixing our eyes upon Jesus. Jesus Christ is our goal. He has already run the race ahead of us. He has faced the most difficult opposition: the shame and torture of the cross. He reached the end of the race and has sat down at the right hand of His Father. He has given us His Spirit to keep us going along the way.
The Holy Spirit infuses us with the necessary incentive to keep going. Often we are tempted to look at others to see how they are doing. In doing so we lose precious time for we have a tendency to compare ourselves with others. Sometimes we compare our strengths with others’ weaknesses. This causes us to look good. Instead we should be comparing ourselves with Jesus. He is the One whom we are to pattern our lives after. To do this we have to look at Him - to study Him. The more we look at Him, the more like Him we become (c.f. II Corinthians 3:18).
Let me encourage you to examine your goal - your focus. What are you looking at in this life? Do you have a hero whom you are trying to emulate? Is the desire to outdo another believer controlling you? The paradox of the Christian life is we want to finish the race in good form, yet at the same time we want fellow believers to finish well, too. God bless!
Love to you all,
Pastor Charles Covington
As I have aged and prayerfully grown in spiritual maturity and wisdom, the desire to pursue what lies ahead has become a great priority. I believe that Jesus is coming to receive His bride (soon) and wanting as a part of His bride (the true believing and obedient church) to be ready, doing His work, waiting patiently yet expectantly.
I do not know what the Lord has planned for me in Bagdad, Kentucky, but I too, press on to lay hold of what Christ Jesus has for me to do here. Let us all prepare, be ready for all the slings and arrows of the evil one, not only protected by the full armor of God, but armed with the Word of God, able to destroy fortresses with truth and love for the building of the kingdom of God! May your spirit be brought to full flame as the signs of the times continue to reveal His soon return.
Rev 22:7
7 "Behold, I am coming soon.
Phil 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us focus on Christ and win this race!
Pastor Dale