The USA Presidential Race and the Good Race
The eyes of the world are fastened on the USA presidential race. It’s that important where your vote and my vote matter. As critical as the presidential race is to the spiritual health of our nation, there is another race of far greater significance that each of us runs every single day. Paul calls it the good race in Galatians 5:7. “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?”
We start our personal good race the day we place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. The world will know the outcome of this USA presidential race in a few days when the winner steps over the finish line. However, only God knows the day of our finish line when we step into eternity. Will we enter the winner’s circle of eternal life or the loser’s circle of eternal death?
One thing is certain. You and I are closer to that elusive finish line today than we were yesterday. Also, how we finish this good race is of greater consequence than how we started. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Determine to finish strong in style and glory.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). What task has God given you to do for Him and others? What are you waiting on?
“Do 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” (1 Cor. 9:24). “Therefore, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).
For your further study, consider Psalm 12. The first and last verse speak of the human race. King David describes the day in which he lived in these eight verses. I believe they also speak to this day in which we live.
The Bible is always relevant to our lives, regardless of who we are, or when or where we live. The Old Testament prophet Amos could very easily be referring to our USA presidential race and the two political parties. “There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground” (Amos 5:7). “Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy…” (Amos 5:15).
We vote once for president every four years. However, we vote daily in our personal race. To finish strong, we must move in closer to Jesus Christ every day with thoughts focused on Him, pray, and read His Word. We have the crucial deciding vote in our good race every single day.