The Christian Challenge

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Many of us have overheard or participated in the office chatter about the colleague who accepted the promotion, or the co-worker who is pursuing a doctorate degree or some entrepreneurial opportunity. Perhaps we know a family member who is training for a marathon or a triathlon. They inspire in us a sense of awe, a certain degree of admiration. We may think they are even crazy for accepting a challenge that most of us undoubtedly and almost instantaneously reject in our minds and simply appears insurmountable.

Last August, my wife dared me to one such challenge. “Let’s sign up for the L.A. marathon with the group from church!” she said undeniably enthused with the idea. I was astonished, not only because of the type of challenge that had just been presented, but also because until then, my wife was the least likely person I knew that would embark in a physical challenge of her own devising.

Though I have been active with other sports over the years, neither of us had run further than six miles, nor run competitively before. I reluctantly agreed, after pondering for a few seconds, as she charged two steps ahead of me in the direction of the “sign-up-for-the-marathon” table just outside of the sanctuary. She did not realize that for the following six months, we would have to be disciplined, dedicate time and effort to training, and develop the mental toughness to reach the level of fitness required to run 26.2 miles. In my mind, I was uneasy and uncertain about completing the training, about being physically able to run that far, and about agreeing to subject myself to the unavoidable physical pain that would be coming our way.

Thinking about that August afternoon reminded me of the thoughts and attitudes we have, and the life situations we may be going through, the moment we decide to walk with Christ. The stories testified by Christians range from heart wrenching to spiritual, from swift, spur of the moment, to lengthy pragmatic processes, and everything in between. Some had hit rock bottom, consumed with an addiction and had fallen to their worst emotional, physical and spiritual shape before surrendering to the Lord. Others were searching for meaning in their lives, and tell of an inner voice that led them to the nearest church on a rather typical and average day.

Whether we as human beings were in the midst of despair, or we arrived at the conclusion that we needed a faith, consciously or unconsciously, we agreed to the Christian challenge. The thoughts and feelings at that instant, thinking whether one will be able to live a life that is right with God, may be no different than those that come to our minds when we sign up for a race – uneasiness, self-doubt, fear of pain. However, the simple act of accepting, of making up one’s mind, required courage and a level of commitment. If you agree to the Christian challenge knowing that it will require dedication and fortitude to see it through, that on its own is an awe-inspiring act.

Jairo Ospina
jospina@race-of-faith.com