Grace For Your Day August 19

When you read the New Testament, one thing you find is that there are many images that the Bible uses to describe the Christian life. For example, it compares it to warfare (Ephesians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:3), boxing (1 Corinthians 9:26), slavery (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1), salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), farming (Matthew 13:1-23), and childhood (1 Peter 2:2, 5).

However, one image that is often used by the writers of Scripture is that of a race because we are told to “run in such a way that you may win” (1 Corinthians 9:24). This same passage goes on to say that:

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified (verses 25-27).

In a similar way, the Author of the Book of Hebrews uses the image of a race when he concludes the Hall of Faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 says:

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 perfecter 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.

The key phrase in this passage is “let us run” because it reminds us how we are to approach the Christian life. We need to do it by running. The Author is telling us that, in light of all he has taught you so far in the Hall of Faith, you cannot become apathetic. You need to sweat and strive and labor hard in your pursuit of Christ. You need to lay aside anything that holds you back (your encumbrances) and anything that dishonors Him (your sin) and flee towards the cross.

The reason this is important is because many people are not in a race towards Christ at all today because they have become so distracted. They are like a man who comes to the starting block of a competition carrying fifty pounds of luggage under each arm. They are like an athlete who shows up at the stadium out of shape because he has spent too much time sitting on the couch which could not be any further from what this passage is telling us to do because the Greek word for “race” here is “agon” from which we get the term “agony.”

It does not refer to a luxurious trot but a painful, agonizing journey where you strain every muscle in your body in order to get to the finish line as quickly as possible. It is a sobering lesson of how seriously we need to take our faith. We need to be so diligent about it that we agonize over it. It needs to consume all our thoughts and energy because the Christian life is not described as a walk or jog or trot here. It is described as a race and I think it is a very fitting thing to look at together in my last Sunday here at GFC because our church has also been in a race together.

It is a race that started in the Fall of 2015 when Grace Fellowship Church conducted its first public services in the basement of a home in Chilliwack. After several meetings, the small group determined that they would plant a church based upon Scripture and the basics of the Christian faith. By the winter of that year, the group had grown large enough to move out of a home and into the current facility at 46024 Riverside Drive.

At the same time, the people realized that they would need help in the church planting process. They reached out to Grace Advance, a ministry of Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, CA that specializes in church plants and revitalization (www.graceadvance.org). In the spring of 2016, they began the pastor search process and they called me to join them on October 5, 2016. My first Sunday was January 22, 2017.

Since then, Grace has seen its first baptisms, welcomed its first members, and held its first camps. It has also hired its first Administrative Assistant and started a Care & Discipleship ministry that allows church members to meet together bi-weekly in small groups for Bible study and prayer. It has continued to grow in its Men’s and Women’s Ministries as well as in its Nursery, Children, and Youth Programs.

Now it is time for our congregation to call another man to step into the Teaching Pastor role and run with you in the next phase of the journey. My family and I will miss everyone at Grace very much but we are excited to see what the Lord will do. We think you have an excellent pastor in Jory Nunn and look forward to hearing about the great things that God will do in your time together with him.

Please join us on Sunday morning as we talk about that together. The service will begin at 9:30 and it will be recorded for all those who cannot make it in person.

– Jeremy Cagle