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Race Before Us, The Introduction: The Christian's life is compared to a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away, (James 4.14); the of the grass, the grass withers and its flower falls away (1 Peter 1.24); a soldier (2 Timothy 2.4); a farmer (2 Timothy 2.6); an athlete in training (1 Corinthians 9.27), and to one in a race (Hebrews 12.1). We want to take this last analogy and apply it to what we are doing at this time. I) The Iditarod A) History 1. 1925 diphtheria broke out in Nome, Alaska. Vaccine had to be flown into Anchorage, Alaska. The problem was how to get the vaccine to Nome? The plane had been dismantled for maintenance. 2. Dog sleds at various villages teamed up to relay the vaccine. Over all there were 20 dog sleds. Each had to do their part, if one sled failed the whole mission would end in failure. 3. They risked their lives. Temperatures were close to minus 50 degrees with winds over 30 miles per hour. 4. The vaccine arrived in Nome 27 hours after it arrived in Anchorage. Lives were saved due to the team work of the dog sleds. B) Since 1975 the Iditarod has been run; this year it started on March 7th. 1. Distance is officially 1049 miles, the 49 is due to Alaska being the 49th state in the Union. 2. Actually the distance last year was 1150 miles as the mileage changes from year to year due to weather conditions. 3. There is a Northern route and a Southern route. C) The rules 1. Each sled must carry -- a sleeping bag weighing at least 5 lbs. an ax, booties for each dog, food and water, a pot big enough to hold 3 gallons of water, and fuel enough to boil the three gallons of water. 2. Sleds must allow others to pass them. 3. Each driver must take a 24 hour rest break, and two 8 hour rest breaks. 4. No alcohol or drugs are allowed. 5. A sled can have at the most 16 dogs and at the least 5 dogs. If you decided to not a race a dog, the dog must be put into the sled. 6. If all the rules are obeyed and you come in first, you are the winner. The winner usually arrives on the 10th day, give or take a day. D) Weather (obstacles) 1. There is the 30-30-30 rule. Degrees of minus 30 with a wind of 30 miles per hour, will freeze your flesh in 30 seconds. 2. Other racers, wild animals, sickness, injury, death of a dog, etc. II)The Race Before Us A) The rules 1. There are certain things we must bear. a. We must bear our cross for the entire race, Mark 8.34. b. We must bear the fruits of repentance, Luke 3.8 c. We must bear fruits of righteousness, John 15.2 d. We must bear one another's burdens, Galatians 6.2 2. We keep all the rules, 2 Timothy 2.2, 5 a. Sven Kramer won the 10,000 meter race in the Olympics. He finished well ahead of his competition but due to improper lane change he was disqualified. B) 1 Corinthians 9.24-27 One must have self control -- requires one to know themselves, and to not give in to temptations. a. The athlete trains and watches what they eat and how much. b. Self control is needed in abstaining from that which is sin and sometimes in that which is allowed. 4. We must control our physical body, knowing how to possess our vessel, 1 Thess. 4.3,7 5. We must control our minds, 2 Corinthians 10.4-5 C) Hebrews12.1 -2 teaches us how to win the race 1. Lay aside every weight (obstacles) -- can you imagine a dog sled carrying around a television or a microwave oven? The only weight they have on board is what is essential. a. Probably the weight the Hebrew writer is speaking of is the weight of unbelief. to not doubt the blessings and promises of God. b. To not go back to a dead religion such as the Law of Moses and become entangled in the eating of meats, Sabbath observance, etc, Matthew 5.29-30; 18.8,9 c. To not look behind (what you gave up) but to look ahead (at where you are going and what you will receive). 2. What kind of a weight are you carrying around? a. The weight of grudges, carelessness, apathy, worldliness, etc. b. You are the only one that can cast aside the weight you are carrying. 3. We are to run with endurance -- to finish the race. 4. We are to run with a purpose -- looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. a. Why are you here tonight? To serve God, to go to heaven, to encourage others, to be edified, to learn more about God's word, etc. b. Let us not forget our purpose in life, Ecc. 12.13 D) Hebrews 4.1-11 there is a time of rest 1. There is a proper time and place to rest 2. Our rest will be on the other side of the grave in heaven. 3. The Israelites were not to rest before their time. Some stopped following God and were lost. E) We can obtain the imperishable crown 1. The winner of Iditarod will receive over $70,000. But that money will be spend and gone. 2. The Christian's crown is heaven. a. If one quits during the Iditarod they may die. If one quits being a faithful Christian they will be lost. b. Let us be careful to never allow ourselves to be in that position. Conclusion: The race we run may be long or short but there is an end and a reward to those who are faithful, 2 Timothy 4.8.
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