We should be careful to avoid growing comfortable in our routines, merely maintaining our spiritual base. I have experienced few things more intimidating than standing at the starting line of a marathon. Surrounded by hundreds of other runners, I considered that the finish line was 26 miles away. To finish, I knew I had to run with purpose, focusing on the goal and ignoring distractions. Christians, similarly, must remember that they have a purpose to glorify God and we must focus on living well so we can reach our goal of finishing well.
Dehydration is the enemy of any distance runner.
So, too, the Christian who is not fed regularly will not finish well. Too often we wait until we are in a crisis, needing encouragement and guidance, before we turn to God. This can leave us wondering why we feel so let down by God. The believer who strives to finish well will take in quality, regular nourishment from the Word of God before ever feeling the lack of it. Marathons are often broken up into smaller distances by the many aid stations along the way, giving runners a series of shorter goals for which to strive.