How does pace help describe a life of following Jesus?

Ecclesiastes 9:11I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives.

We should never compare our pace for running the Christian race to the pace of someone else. Jesus described his Kingdom as a realm in which the first are last and the last are first. Our success comes from our dependence on God and joy in the Lord rather than from our speed and ability. Success in this race isn’t about us; it’s about the One we’re running for and who’s running with us.

1 Corinthians 9:24Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

The Christian life is characterized as a race to be taken seriously and completed well. Ultimately, in the Christian life we are not racing against others but are to encourage others to keep up the pace, even as they encourage us. The race God has set before us is a race he can help us win if we do not give up.