Running the Race
	At this time we as the Central Valley Church of Christ are faced with the challenge of needing leadership and the decision about what kind of church will we become. For some of us, these times may seem uncertain or full of hardship. Paul the apostle also faced uncertainty and hardship in doing God’s will.

Acts 20:22-24
	22"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

When you follow where God and his Holy Spirit lead you, you will sometimes face uncertainty and hardship. Sometimes you will not see the fruit of your labor immediately. Sometimes you will not feel an overwhelming high or joy of success in your ministry. It does not mean you are on the wrong path. Paul knew he had to persevere and finish the race. The race, which is the life of a disciple of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.   25Everyone 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. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

In this race we cannot afford to run it aimlessly. We must run it with discipline, with perseverance, and as a team. We have to do what it takes to get everyone we can to the finish line. And don’t forget that the prize is eternal and worth far more than all the temporary crowns we have been chasing: entertainment, financial success, home improvement. Our goal is heaven, and we have been distracted from our goal for long enough.

Galatians 5:7-10
	7You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.

How does someone cut in on us and keep us from running a good race? When we let things or people keep us from obeying the truth. And the truth is found in the Bible, not in people’s opinions or feelings. Now our leadership has gone through some major changes, are you going to stop obeying the truth? What we do in the next few months will tell us if we are following men or following God. Will we allow ourselves to be thrown into confusion as the scripture describes, or will each of us go back to the Bible and get spiritually strong again and step up to fill the sudden vacuum of strength and leadership present in the church?

Hebrews 12:1-3

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Where should our eyes be fixed as we run this race? On Jesus. We have got to throw off everything that hinders and untangle ourselves from sin, so that we can focus on Jesus. Not on specific people, not the leadership group, not the problems of the church, not even worries of our personal lives, but on Jesus. If we watch Jesus and the example of his life and love, we will not grow weary or lose heart during this time of transition.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.   6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Church, we need to preach, correct, rebuke and encourage with God’s word. We need to get back to sound doctrine so that we can keep our heads and adhere to the truth and so that we do not turn aside to myths. If we can do that then someday, like Paul, we can say these words about ourselves: that we fought the good fight, that we finished the race, that we kept the faith. And Jesus himself, will award us that crown of righteousness. Disciples of the Central Valley Church of Christ, thank you for your perseverance and support through these times and I’ll see you at the finish line.