Gear Up

Gear Up

In any sport, having the right equipment is crucial; sometimes it can make the difference between success and failure, winning and losing. Again, this is obvious in sports such as ice hockey, football, skiing, cycling, and kayaking, in which competitors wear a variety of pads or depend on something they must ride, pedal, or paddle. In a sport such as running, we might assume that the “equipment,” what little there is, has little if any impact on performance. What a mistake! Everything from shoes to shirts can make a huge difference.

The Bible often uses the metaphor of putting on clothes to picture various aspects of the Christian life. In both cases—running and living for Christ—having the right equipment is crucial. Consider Paul’s message to the Roman believers:

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. (Romans 13:12-14)

The Runner

He was ready for the marathon (his first), having put in more than three months of miles. Carefully following the workout schedule laid out in the running magazine, he had eventually completed two twenty-mile runs. The only problem, as he could see it, was that his shoes were getting worn and ratty—would they even hold up? So he went to the running store and bought a good pair with a nice, cushiony feel. While there, he also bought a new running outfit. Then he wore the shoes the last week before the race, to break them in, as he eased off on distance (and loaded up on carbohydrates).

Early on the morning of the marathon, he put on the new running shirt, shorts, socks, and shoes, and headed for the start. The gun went off, and our runner disciplined himself to keep his pace, confident in his new shoes. At about six miles, however, he began to feel it—chafing on the collar and arms of his new shirt and blisters forming on his feet. He stopped to apply Vaseline, but that only gave relief for a couple of miles. At about the ten-mile mark, every stride was painful . . . and he had sixteen more to go! At twelve miles he gave up, barely able to walk, let alone run . . . defeated by his shoes.

The Race

Experienced runners know that wearing the right equipment for a marathon, especially shoes, is crucial. Imagine someone showing up to the starting line wearing jeans and sandals and expecting to compete. The person may be able to run a few yards, perhaps even make a mile, but he or she would be in terrible shape. The continual pounding and moving of the legs and arms over long distances will magnify any rub or irritation. For example, a tag on the back of a shirt or shorts can rub away the skin, and shoes that are a bit tight or loose in certain places can cause serious blisters or other issues. They should be chosen carefully—with consideration given to the runner’s weight, stride, and step—and thoroughly broken in before the race. The best-looking shoes may turn out to be the worst choice.

For the Christian race, Paul urges believers to wear the “shining armor of right living” and to be clothed with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. But before lacing up those shoes and shorts, we need to get rid of the old ones, which Paul calls our “dark deeds.” Then he gets specific, warning against the “darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, . . . sexual promiscuity and immoral living, . . . quarreling and jealousy.” Those old clothes will hinder us in this race. We need to gear up!

The Result

Some try to keep up Christian appearances while harboring secret “dark deeds.” But anyone who wants to run the real race must remove those clothes, that old life, and put on the equipment provided by our heavenly Coach. These are lifestyle choices. God has told you what to do, how to live. The choice is yours.

My Story

I love walking into the running store on a mission, whether that means buying new running shoes, cold weather running tights, an armband to hold my iPhone, or even a few new packs of GU Energy Gel for my long runs—it is a magical feeling! Why? I think because when I have the right gear, my goal seems more attainable.

I feel “fit” in my favorite running outfit and actually run faster. Without properly fitting running shoes, one can never put in the long miles. A shoe that works for me won’t necessarily work for someone else because we are all so different in the size and shape of our feet, the way we run, our posture, our heel strike, etc. One size does not fit all when it comes to running!

Having the right gear for those long runs correlates directly to having the right gear for my faith journey and the race that God wants me to run. When I began running, I had very little faith, no strong Christian values, and no idea that God had a plan for me. I attribute this dark point in my life to not having the proper “gear.” Oh, I had the right running shoes, cute clothes, and water bottles, but I was lacking the proper gear for my Christian walk of life and the real race I should have been training for. It was only after I “geared up” with the essentials—which included a loving, Christian husband; a church and small group to help keep me accountable; reading God’s Word through the Bible and devotionals; daily prayer; Christian music; and Christian community--that I fully understood that God had a plan for me and that this is his race.

With the right gear we can properly train, race, and attain our goals. I also need to have the right gear in my day-to-day life. The company I keep, the books I read, and the music I listen to all help shape my day and my journey with God. This “armor” of God helps me to stay focused on what he wants for me and protects me from outside forces that want to pull me away from him. Just like my cold-weather running gear protects me from the elements, my Christian gear protects me from the devil himself.

Ellen

Think It Through

1. What spiritual “running clothes” do you need to get rid of?

2. Why is this so difficult to do?

3. What does your new, spiritual running equipment look like, your “shining armor of right living”?

4. How can you be assured of the “presence of the Lord Jesus Christ”?

On Running

What should I wear when running in the heat?

Because your body needs to get rid of heat quickly, you shouldn’t wear too many clothes. In order to release heat by convection, the body needs to be open to the air. Running attire made of cotton is not a good choice because cotton absorbs and holds sweat. Instead, look for shirts and shorts made of fabric that wicks away sweat, allowing the body to cool itself through evaporation. Not only will you not get as hot, but your clothing won’t be as heavy!