This race that we are to run, is to try to please God in our everyday life! And he again reminds us that we must lay aside every weight (like those runners did of old) and the sin that so easily besets us, and we must run with patience the race set before us. And as the competitors did in those old days—they looked at the goal, and ran with all their might—so we must look to Jesus, who has told us to run this heavenly race, and who is waiting for us to finish it, through faith in Him.
Those runners cast aside every impediment; they were trained with the utmost care, so as to leave nothing undone which could help them.
And Jesus our Saviour, Who is looking on at all those who have undertaken His race, assures us, with most beautiful promises, that we shall surely receive the Crown of Life, which He has promised to those who obey Him.
You boys and girls in these days are all running a race of some sort!
I do not mean only your Sports' Day! That is most interesting to you all, and, doubtless, is very good for you.
But there are heaps of other races which come into your lives—your difficult lessons, your music, your drawing, your languages, and a dozen other efforts; to have a good education, and to get on in the world!
But Jesus is watching you all with the deepest interest. He says to you, that He longs to see you come to Him and join His great Race, and, like Matthew, "rise up and follow Him."
Then if you do, you have undertaken to be in the Race whose crown is Everlasting Life.
And for this race, the "looking unto Jesus" is the safety and the joy of it.
Satan loves to tempt us, and at our first failure, perhaps he says, "You will never do it; give it up!"