RUNNING cartoons - Run the good race to win!

Running offers a rich metaphor for the Christian life, and Scripture often uses it to illustrate spiritual truths. Here are some Christian lessons drawn from the act of running:

  1. Run with Endurance: Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” Life’s a marathon, not a sprint. Trials test stamina, but fixing our eyes on Christ keeps us going.

  2. Shed Excess Weight: That same Hebrews passage urges us to “lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.” Like a runner shedding heavy gear, Christians are called to let go of burdens—sin, guilt, distractions—to run freely toward God.

  3. Stay on the Course: In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul declares, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Running teaches focus—straying off path wastes time. Faithfulness means sticking to God’s way, even when it’s hard.

  4. Train with Discipline: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 compares the Christian life to an athlete’s training: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things… I discipline my body and keep it under control.” Running requires practice and sacrifice; so does growing in holiness.

  5. The Prize Awaits: Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” For Christians, the prize isn’t fleeting like a medal, but eternal—salvation and God’s “well done.”

  6. Encourage Fellow Runners: Galatians 6:2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens.” In a race, runners cheer each other on. The Christian road isn’t solitary—lifting up the weary or stumbling reflects Christ’s love.

  7. Strength from Above: Isaiah 40:31 promises, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength… they shall run and not be weary.” Human effort falters, but God’s power sustains us when the legs feel weak.

Think of your own “race” right now—maybe a struggle or a goal. Running reminds us it’s not about speed, but perseverance, reliance on God, and the finish line of His kingdom. What’s keeping you running?

TRACK & FIELD cartoons