All of us are running toward something. We are traveling down one path or another. As the old hymn says "This world is not my home, I'm just a'passin' through," One thing is for sure, God never promised that the road would not be long and hard. He just promised that there would be eternal rest for those who love him waiting on the other side.
I want to be able to say, like Paul, that I have ran the race and finished it well. I want Jesus to look at me and say "Well done, good and faithful servant." That is what I want for all of us at Sardis Baptist Church.
I have a friend who was a cohort peer with me in my doctoral studies. He runs 100 mile ultramarathons. I have heard him talk about the grueling process of training that running these races requires. He has explained to me the fatigue that comes with running this extreme race. He describes the desire to give up and quit before he is finished. But then he gets excited when he speaks of the second wind that he gets that takes him to the finish line. Oh the sight of that finish line!
As a follower of Christ, life is not a sprint. It is an ultramarathon. It takes significant training that only the church can provide. Only Jesus can be our trainer. He keeps pushing us to get better, run harder, be stronger. One beautiful thing about that is that Jesus runs the race with us. Jesus never gets winded. He never gets tired. His strength is made manifest in our weakness. When we want to give up, he is there to give us a second wind. When the road is too long, too tough...he is right there. He knows what it takes to finish the race and he knows the course because he created it.
There have been times when I have gotten too weak. Times when I have gotten lost on the course. I have wanted to take shortcuts. He keeps guiding the way. The road to destruction is wide and easy. There aren't too many hurdles on that road. I have found myself trying to get out of the marathon and just take a casual stroll on the wide and easy path. I know that is not who I am. I know that is not what I trained for...but it's easier.
Recently I made the difficult decision to leave my position at Sardis Baptist Church and begin a new ministry at Powell Baptist Church. This was not an easy decision. I have been the pastor at Sardis for over five years. I know that is not a tremendously long time but it is long enough to establish life-long relationships. It is long enough to become a part of a community. And, dangerously, it was long enough for me to have become comfortable in my position. Jesus said it was long enough. In my time here, I ran the best way that I knew how. I wanted to stay on this course but Jesus wanted to challenge me.
I have made so many friendships. I have learned so many things. Seminary prepares you doctrinally for the marathon but it cannot prepare you the way that actually running the race will. I remember my first week here. I was new at this thing. I was clueless. There were many times in the first weeks and months that I didn't even know what I was supposed to be doing...how to even get started running. After a while, though, I began to figure things out little by little. I have not, by any means, arrived. I've just figured out how to start running. I pray that most of the marathon is still ahead of me and that I can use my experience here as a springboard to propel me into many fruitful years of ministry. Sardis Baptist, though, was never considered a stepping stone for me. I never had intention of leaving until I knew for certain that God was calling me away. I believe with all of my heart that God called me here just as strongly as I believe that he is leading me away now.
I will always remember my time here. I will remember that this was where God chose to use me for the first leg of my race. I will remember that through the ministries of Sardis Baptist, my son came to know Jesus. I will remember the good times. Were there bumps in the road? Sure. But God used those bumps to make me stronger...to give me a second wind. I pray that our Lord will do the same for Sardis Baptist. I pray that the best years of ministry in this place are still to come. Run the race, church, and finish well.
Sardis Baptist will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to crossing the ultimate finish line and standing before Jesus together will all of the saints. One day we will fellowship again together. Until then, let's keep running.
Pastor Nick
