(video links in post) RUN THE RACE & GO FOR THE GOLD

Well, the Jamaican men's relay final team consisting of Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Michael Frater & Nesta Carter did extremely well at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu South Korea. Usain Bolt was the highlight of the event, anchoring the Jamaican team, shattering their old World Record (WR), and setting a new 37.04 second WR in the 4 x 100m relay event.

If you missed the race you can see it here: TELEVISION JAMAICA (TVJ) men's 4x100m relay final.

Jamaica's women's 4 x 100m relay final team consisting of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart and Shelly-Ann Frazer-Price also did well but won silver behind team USA.

If you missed the race you can see it here: TELEVISION JAMAICA (TVJ) women's 4x100m relay final.

World class sprinters excel because they prepare physically as well as mentally for their races. They literally shed all cares and focus completely on the course as well as on the finish line and the prize: the gold medal. They run with a vision of the prize!

This is a great example of the Biblical teaching in Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV). It says:

Hebrews 12:1-3
King James Version (KJV)

"1. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2. 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

Believers are compassed with a great cloud of witnesses similar to but greater than those that were gathered to watch the Jamaican team shatter the world record in the stadium in Daegu, South Korea. :)

Believers are running a race and are urged to lay aside every weight and the sin which can hinder us. We are also urged to run with patience the race set before us, looking to Jesus in a similar way that these world class sprinters look to the finish line and the gold medal. Our advantage as believers is that we have JESUS who perfects our faith and brings us to the prize at the end of it: eternal life.

Run your race with patience and look to Jesus the author and finisher of your faith.

God Bless you and God bless Jamaica.

SMM