Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Heb. 12:1.

The word patience in the Greek is a very strong word. It means diligence, steadfastness, endurance, resolute and wholehearted allegiance that will face every trial, every disapproval, every temptation, rather than deny Christ. It is not enough to make a good start. We must keep in shape day after day, spiritually, morally, and mentally.

There is to be no slothfulness in our Christian life. Life is fleeting, short, and swift. If we see a man building a house we can tell by the way he goes about it whether his heart is in it or not. We can tell whether he has a will to do the work.

A man who is swimming for his life will strike out with determination and strength so long as he has hope of saving his life. When he despairs, he is in danger of sinking. Let us not lose confidence, let us not lose our trust in our God. He loves us more than we can ever know. He desires our salvation more than we do. He guarantees that the prize will be ours.

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14: 12). If we would truly enter into eternal life, if we desire to escape the loss of our souls, if we prefer the honor of God rather than the praise of men, if we would live the Christlike life, if we would stand at last in the sunrise of the splendor of the heights of heaven, we must run with patience. We must never give up.

In this race we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Those Christians who have finished the race are pictured as though they were holding us in full survey, urging us on. As we study the great men of God who have gone before us, let us take heart. We too can receive the crown. They were all men of like passions, but they found Christ more than sufficient. These men like unto ourselves won the race. What happened to them will surely happen to us, providing we look unto Christ. He is the author and finisher of our faith. "Consider him, . . . lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds" (Heb. 12:3). He never forsakes us, He never gives up on us. He never ceases to train, to direct, to encourage and empower us. Let us press on with certainty of victory through Christ.