Michael-Grams: M-G: 12.13.17 // Therefore So Run, Part 3 of 3

Let’s talk about some extremely slower speeds in comparison to the pace of the angels and demons across the vast stretches of space, whether by wormholes, multi-dimensions, or thought-like. Anchored to the surface of the earth by gravity, we are in constant motion, cosmically speaking, by the earth's rotational clip (spinning on its axis) of ~1000+ mph at the equator. At the same time, the planets in our solar system are orbiting around our sun at the speed of ~66,000+ mph. The Earth is ~93 million miles away from the sun. It takes ~365.25 days to complete one orbit around our sun.

It gets faster but way slower than those angels and demons can fly! It is postulated that our solar system is hauling around the center of the Milky Way at ~514,000+ mph (or 143 mps). It is theorized that it will take our solar system to circumnavigate the center of the Milky Way a mere 225-250 million terrestrial years or one cosmic or galactic year.1

Let’s really slow things down to a snail’s pace in comparison to those various speeds. Yeah, you're making a living, raising a family, and doing the best that you can. I bet you are so busy that you are having trouble even being still, don't you? When you catch a break, you feel guilty cause you’re not moving and always thinking you’re behind! Then you discover, “We’re late for church!” This morning I came to a complete stop while the universe maintained its constant motions, and I sipped my cup of joe as the sun was “rising” over the mountains. Life in Christ is good!

This may sound a little silly, but consider that there was not the slightest shimmer in my cup as the earth was spinning like a carousel, with me on it, over 1,000 mph at its equator (slower as you move toward the poles) and traveling around the sun at a clip of over 66,000 mph and moving along with our solar system around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy at a paltry pace of over a half-million mph.

Since rotational and orbital speeds are constant, we do not feel the motions. Since all is in motion, we have not been whisked away off the surface of the earth. It is as smooth a ride as the surface of the java in my cup. The aroma of my morning brew was pleasantly moving upward while the earth beneath my feet was spinning and scooting about! God was in control of everything speed (cf. Col 1:15-16, 17, NASB)!

What an intro to our English Bible – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!” This would also include all of these constant motions we have been talking about, fantastic rates of speed! It was said, “Nearly everything we know about the Universe beyond the Earth has been learned from a distance.”2 That makes me wonder if this may be the testimony of some believers today, “Nearly everything I know about God has been learned from a distance.”

Scientists talk about the four forces or the four fundamental interactions in which subatomic particles interact with one another. These interactions are comprised of a strong nuclear force (holding the nucleus together, the “glue”), an electromagnetic force, a weak nuclear force (radioactive decay and neutrino interactions), and a gravitational force. Each has a sphere of influence, some strong some weak.

Scientists argue over the possibility of a fifth source; we know who, not what, that is! Jesus Christ, who is sovereign over what is called the four forces,

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Col 1:17).

God is not subject to or bound by His creation because Christ was in existence before “the beginning” of the universe, “He is before all things.” The phrase “in Him all things consist” literally means “to hold together.” God is the glue, sort of speak; He created the four fundamental forces of nature that prevent us from falling apart and floating away. God sustains everything pertaining to the universe and is the prime reason that life exists and continues.

I make mention of a very complex subject in a very general kind of way to say that God is not bound by the physical world on any level, nor is He limited by our explanations of how angels and demons move about. Theories are just that, theories. But I will contend that since the Creator is eternal, having no beginning or end, and has absolute, unlimited, incomprehensible power, He is not bound by whatever physical laws He has put in place.

Angels and demons are probably traveling outside those laws. So, incomprehensible distances, a hostile environment in interstellar space, the interactions of matter and energy, and so forth are irrelevant to these creatures who are spirit beings. God is Spirit (Jn 4:24a) and the Almighty (Rev 1:8). He determines a thing, not man.

We could go on with pages about all of this speed stuff as fun and as fascinating as it is. So, I would like to pivot to a spiritual meaning in all of this and keep this article to only three parts. When I think of speed, I also can’t help but think about racing and the wide array of competitions it engenders to go faster and further than anyone! The Apostle Paul described our faith in God as running in a race,

(Php 3:14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

(1Cor 9:24-27) 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 [Gk, “Therefore so 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 [emphasis mine].

We are to all run to obtain an imperishable wreath through discipline (holiness unto God) to win for the glory of God. If we are all to run then the race is not to the swift. In this race, all win who run, but we must run to obtain; it is a love (agape) component. We run because we are obedient; we are obedient to God’s Word (disciplined) because we love (agape) Him (Jn 14:15). Love (agape) and holiness (1 Pet 1:15-16, disciplining and transforming the mind and body by the renewing of the mind to the way God thinks, speaks, and acts, cf. Rom 12:2) determine the speed in which we run the race of faith as manifested by our lifestyle.

There is a line from the 1981 production of Chariots of Fire where Eric Liddell was talking to his sister Jennie who was concerned that all of Eric’s preparations and training for the 1924 Olympics in Paris, France were interfering with her brother’s future of returning to China to be a missionary. In reality, the real Jennie said this was not true for she supported her brother concerning his Olympic dreams (can’t remember citation).

Notwithstanding Hollywood’s flair for tension and drama, it was a great line whether Eric said it or not to Jennie,

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

When I first heard that on the big screen, it moved me to tears. 36 years later I make mention of it... Harold M. Abrahams also representing the United Kingdom in the VIII Olympiad made a complaint to his girlfriend, Sybil Evers, in the movie after losing the 100 meters to Eric Liddell (I don’t think they ever ran against each other which supposedly took place in preparation for the 1924 Olympics) that “If I can’t win, I won’t run!” To which she replied, “If you don’t run, you can’t win.” You go, girl!

In reality, during the 1924 Olympics, Harold Abrahams won the 100m in 10.6 sec., tying the Olympic record. Eric Liddell, who was the current British record holder in the 100m, declined to run one of the heats held on Sunday that was needed to qualify for the finals in the 100m. His reason for turning down the qualifying heat was in order to honor God on the sabbath as he encouraged others to do with his life.

Now, this decision was made prior to leaving for France to participate in the Olympics. Whether we agree with Eric’s decision or not (cf. Jas 4:17), he did qualify to run the 400m and struck gold, tying the Olympic record of 47.6 sec. Our running the race of faith is actually an extension of our love for God. Our holiness for God is what keeps us on track and an effective runners in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:16) suggests that the pace is already determined by God. “The love of God” has already been “poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit” at regeneration (Rom 5:5), and the quality of that walk is holy (“shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh,” Gal 5:16). Conversely, walking according to self, and you shall fulfill the lust of the flesh and wind up off the track, not running at all!

Why are so many of us who are born again believers living defeated lives? Maybe, just maybe, we are not really in the race at all; there is no pace, no perspiration, and no problems! It appears that we are more comfortable being spectators or marginal players at best, doing nothing more than playing out a religious label and defending it to the hilt!

God expects us to all run the race of faith in a certain way, His way (cf. Heb 11:6), in spite of the fact that the physical world is moving at such an incredible rate of speed; the world system is driving its agenda at a relentless pace of 24/7/365, and like the dew that dissipates when the sun comes up, we are growing older faster than we like, and there is no way to stop the aging. Time is fleeting.

Perhaps our lives would become smoother or settled, like the java in my cup, when we allow God to be in control of our lives and get back and stay in God’s motion on the track where He expects us to run this race of faith for Him for His glory. Maybe it is all of the accelerations and decelerations of self-will in this or that which causes us to feel the motion in the undulations of the takeoffs and stops, the ups and downs of living life horizontally off the track? We become spiritually sick from all of the commotions, and the placebos of this world do not stop the “not feeling right.” Hint: it is supposed to be that way when out of God’s will. There is no pleasure in being off track, and certainly no winning or blessings.

It is so easy to get caught up in all of this varied perpetual motion stuff of spinning and orbiting around this and that. I am reminded every time I look down on the surface of my coffee in my cup that stillness happens because we are part of that constant motion in creation, physically. But what about spiritually? God’s idea of being still is not a break from running the race of faith; it is very much similar to the idea that peace doesn’t mean the absence of conflict in this great spiritual war between good and evil. It's oxymoronic but true nonetheless, that being still does not mean the absence of motion.

In this conjoining of speed and stillness, comes the self-realization, an epiphany of sorts, of an appreciation of who God is and what He is capable of doing; Yahweh is exalted! This should generate calmness and boldness for God amidst the swirling! It is not by might or power but by God’s Spirit that we run for Him. Would to God that we would discover we must be moving with and for God to experience the kind of stillness that He is talking about (Psa 46:10)!

There is one more thing. Recall in Jesus’ pattern of prayer in Mt 6:9-13, one of the petitions had to do with the Father’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven (v10b). To be sure, when God’s kingdom comes to earth, His will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven. But there is a more immediate application to it as well in the here and now. How is God’s will done in heaven? Simply put, immediately and completely. Now answer the question, “How is God’s will done by me?”

Life is way too short for us not to obey God’s will for our lives immediately and completely right now. There is no delaying whatsoever; there is no attitude adjustment; there is no weighing out the consequences; there is no half-heartedness; there is no incompletion nor abandonment. If this sounds like you, rest assured you are not in the race. God’s will in heaven is done quickly, and nothing is left unfinished or incomplete. We are to run to obtain, to win! We must jump into God's motions to see the stillness of the coffee from a spiritual perspective!

(2 Tim 4:7-8) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing [emphasis mine].

(Heb 12:1-2) 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 [emphasis mine].

There are peace, joy, and blessings on the track. Therefore so run, with love (agape) and holiness, with God’s speed the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. <><