LightGrams
February 1, 2024
Volume 28, Number 3
Daniel Fairbrother was recently stopped by police in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in England. He wasn’t in a car but was running. So why was he stopped? It was because of the refrigerator he had strapped to his back. The police were almost apologetic, but explained, “We’ve got to stop you.”
Daniel explained to the officers that the refrigerator (which appears to be a smaller apartment-sized appliance) was to help him train for the upcoming London Marathon. He realizes it’s an odd sight, and if he’s stopped again, he won’t be annoyed. In addition to training for the marathon he is also trying to raise money for Diabetes UK because of the help they’ve given for his friend.
Another odd thing about Fairbrother is that he doesn’t plan to remove the appliance from his back when he runs the marathon! He hopes to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon while carrying a household appliance. (The current record is 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 13 seconds.
Running a race with excessive weight is not the norm. Most who run in races are out to run as fast as possible. They may train with ankle weights or other encumbrances, but off they come before the starter’s pistol is fired.
In Hebrews 12:1 we find this image applied to the most important race known to humanity – the race of life: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Sin, according to this, is a weight, something that hinders our ability to run our race.
A similar image is found in 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” “Gird up the loins of your mind”?! The common attire of men as well as women in Peter’s day was a robe. When physical labor was demanded, the robe could get in the way of activity, so it would have to be tucked in place with a belt. It’s similar to our saying, “It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.” Anything that interferes with free movement makes our work more difficult.
Whether preparing to run a race or getting down to work, a person needs to be focused and serious. Remove any obstacles that may slow us down. And the Bible is clear that the things of this world will certainly slow down our advance toward our home in heaven.
Here’s one more reminder from 1 Timothy 6:9 that life can put things in our path that will encumber us: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” Once caught in a snare, a person will not be able to continue their journey toward heaven. When we get out into the deep waters of worldly things, we are more likely to drown and fail to reach our goal.
It’s imperative that we each do a careful inventory of our lives. If we find we are carrying spiritual refrigerators on our spiritual backs, it’s clearly time to make adjustments.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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