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During the first week in February, runners from several countries fought their way up the stairwell of the Empire State Building in the 28th annual "Empire State Building Run-Up." Though the famous skyscraper has relinquished its title as "the tallest building in the world" it's still quite the challenge for the runners who come to this "invitation only" event each year.
The hundred or so sprinters who are invited to run are all die-hard athletes in their own right. This year's winner was Austrian Rudolf Reitberger who sprinted up all 1,575 steps from the lobby to the 86th floor in 10 minutes and 24 seconds. The eldest runner, Chico Scimone, at 93 was timed at just over 49 minutes. He was quoted as saying "This is life a present I give to myself every year." He has entered the race for the past fourteen years! For those of us who are glad to walk around the track without being winded, running up 86 flights of stairs doesn't sound too much like a present; punishment maybe!
There are many people who believe that Christianity is about sinless perfection, about "running to the top" on your own. There are those of us who would have a difficult time making it to the top. Others get discouraged and quit early in the race.
We certainly need to "run the race set before us as" the Hebrew writer teaches in Hebrews 12:1. However, Christianity is about faith and trust in the One who ran where we could not run and did what we could not do. He accomplished for the weak and the sinful what they couldn't finish for themselves. It's about helping those who cannot help themselves.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.-Ephesians 2:8-9
I'm glad that it's not all up to me, aren't you? I'd get tired at the top of the first flight of stairs!
Tom Nuckels |