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.
Hebrews 12:1
If conquering pornography was as easy as sprinting 100 metres, you would have victory by now. Most able-bodied men can sprint for 100 metres (or 100 yards). Some are faster, some are slower, but just about every man can run that distance quickly. A marathon, on the other hand, is a race that most men cannot run. We’re talking 42 kilometers (26 miles), a distance that the majority of men can’t run without training and self-discipline.
Conquering pornography, lust, and sexual immorality is no different. Quitting for a day is easy. Quitting for 42 days in a row is harder. Quitting for a lifetime is harder still. This is partly what Paul has in mind when he tells you and me to lay aside the sin which so easily ensnares us, and to run with endurance the race that is set before us. Before us is a race. And it’s not the 100-metre dash. It’s the marathon.
Runners who compete in the 100-metre dash don’t pace themselves. They don’t rely on any endurance. They explode out of the blocks at the sound of the starter pistol and sprint as quickly as they can until they reach the tape. They run with all their might, using every ounce of energy and determination they have.
Runners who compete in the marathon, on the other hand, take it slow and steady. They break the race into chunks. They manage their breathing. They fight the temptation to quit.
If you want to gain victory in the area of sexual purity, run with endurance. Don’t sprint for the finish line hoping to reach it within a minute. Run a slow and steady race. Expect to be tempted every day. Expect to have lustful thoughts every day. Then take whatever action you need to take day in, day out, to resist sexual temptation and to run a pure race. Remember, when you start a marathon, you can’t see the finish line. It’s there, and you will reach it, when you lay aside every weight, lay aside the sin that so easily besets you, and run your race with endurance.
Need a daily kick in the pants to quit porn biblically? Buy the book, or subscribe to my daily kick.
Was this post helpful? Share it now:
