What Does Your Life Tell About You?

What Does Your Life Tell About You? (Audio)

A biography is a unique way of looking at someone’s life through a particular lens or from a unique perspective. A run of the mill biography is written by a third party that may or may not have the present or historical perspective of the subject fully covered. Essentially it tells the life story, or of a particular incident or scope of the subjects life.

Autobiographies are penned by the individual essentially telling their own life story. Or, at least as far as they can tell because even they do not know their own ending!

We all have a story to tell!

Your life can be viewed by yourself, or a third party and the ensuing tale can be spellbinding, or mundane, or both. It simply depends on what you have to accomplish with your life, and how it works out.

One of the most interesting individuals from the New Testament is the Apostle Paul. There are many books about his life, but the only autobiographical writing we have are his epistles (letters) that he writes to churches and people he communicated with.

It’s from these writings that I want to share a thought that I think is important. At least for me!

It’s a famous line that we’ve used often from Hebrews. I like to think it’s the Apostle Paul’s writing, but it has also been attributed to several others. Regardless. Read and pause for a moment to think.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV)

One reason I think of Paul as the author is that no other writer in the New Testament speaks about life as a “race”. A broader search finds that Paul is connected to the thought process several different times.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NKJV)

Okay? Paul doesn’t stop here but this concept of his life as a race to the end is enhanced by his desire to finish his race with joy (Acts 20:24), and when he approaches his ending he notes he has fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

His pursuit of life did not begin the same way it ended. It began in one mode and ended headed in a totally different direction. However, his heritage of beginning was secure (Philippians 3:5-6). His beginning impacted his ending, but his ending was not negatively controlled from the beginning of his life. His race included a change of direction and a wholly different purpose!

When he was blinded on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his life changed! His pursuit of life changed. He now had a different purpose and calling.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16 NKJV)

Did Paul change his own focus? Not really. Instead, he aligned himself with God’s purpose for his life. No longer did he persecute, he now recruited. His life became an endurance race that never seemed to stop. He had a lot of ground to make up for his perceived lost time. He became a leader of the early church doing more with his one life than many churches could do with many people.

He becomes that example of life that was focused on fulfilling the Great Commission Jesus gave the church! (Matthew 28:19-20)

Since we are all going to run our race unique to ourselves, then we need to understand a few things about this journey. Please Note: I am not a runner, nor have I ever been successful in any competition from school days forward, so, all my notes are geared toward other pursuits but utilize the same concepts of people who successfully run in a physical race.

Endurance

The race of life is not an endurance test that begins with the first breath and ends with the last. In fact, it’s not an endurance of constant effort. If you think about anybody that races for living, or enjoyment, then their world is wrapped up in multiple races for certain periods of time and includes the prep time in advance of the immediate race and the recovery that takes place when the race is completed. It’s easily viewed as a season and Paul address this:

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9 NKJV)

Rewards are not instant, nor are they constant. They are seasonally produced as we continue to do good. Sometimes the crop never comes in when we can enjoy the rewards of our labors. Sometimes, maybe even many times, it’s the next generation that gets to enjoy the rewards of our labors.

Skills

Each particular race requires different skills. To be the fastest in a single trek around the track is different than the pace you establish and maintain for multiple treks around the track.  Knowing the race changes your pace. It’s like studying for a test. A single test in one day allows you to do it one way, but having multiple tests in a single day requires a totally different strategy.

The prep for each style of race is unique and different. Fueling your body, soul, and mind for the short quick pace is different from the long stridden distance. Even a resting period needs to be fueled to maintain, and the recovery period after a race needs to be specifically fueled to recover faster.

Someone who knows this better than I would probably tell you there are some who are better suited for sprints, cross country, marathons, mountains and valleys, flatlands and rolling hills. Just as a sports player changes their cleats to match the terrain, and auto racers change their tires to fit the track and weather, we are all suited for different efforts, and each requires a different set of skills.

Paul asks the church at Corinth:

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:29-31 NKJV)

Since the church is full of many members in one body, we must remember that all members do not have the same function (Romans 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12, 18-27, Ephesians 5:30). But we each have a similar race to run. Success in each of our endeavors benefits the entire body!

Perseverance

Each of us struggles with different parts of our life. Sometimes it’s an easy path, and other times it’s difficult, even when doing the same thing day in and day out.

Paul tells us to pursue our life with perseverance (Ephesians 6:18). Since he was a student of the Torah, he knew the story of Jacob who wrestled all night with an angel and would not let go until he received his blessings (Genesis 32:24-28). Or King David who waited patiently on God until God inclined himself toward David (Psalms 40:1). He probably heard of the persistent person in a parable that Jesus talked about. Ready to be consistent until needs are met. Think about the father of the Prodigal Son story. He persevered standing at the edge of his property looking for his son to return (Luke 15:20).

Closing Thought

I’m just like anybody else. I grow weary. I get discouraged. I lose focus on the future path ahead of me. Along the way, there are friends, family, and strangers that come alongside me and help me regain my strength and encourage me forward in my pursuit.

We could all be takers of these kindnesses, but we should also be givers. It is Jesus speaking, you receive an abundance of more when you give without thinking. Measure your giving by the smallness and you will receive only smallness in return. Give largely, and the blessings will be more quickly overwhelming in return.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 NKJV)

One of my favorite songs from my teen years?

Try A Little Kindness (Click to See and Hear)