It is easier to convince a 60-year-old man to run a marathon than it is to lead him to Christ!

In my experience it is easier to convince a 60-year-old man to run a marathon than it is to lead him to Christ.  At first you might think this is a crazy statement, but I know this to be true because it happened to me.  For over 20 years I have been trying to live by example in going to church and living a Christian lifestyle.  I have talked many times about my faith with this man over that 20+ years and he has seen the positive impact it has had on my life.  More recently (within the last 6-7 years) I have taken up running.  I used to hate running but my wife convinced me into run a 10K (6 miles) with her.  Then she convinced me to run a half marathon (13.1 miles).  After those first races I kept at it and began running marathons (26.2 miles).  This man, who has heard me talk about being a Christian for over 20 years but did not go to church, also observed my new running passion.  Having never ran a race before, he took interest and joined me for a half-marathon at age 59!  Then he signed up and completed his 2^nd ever race, a marathon, at age 60!  If you ask most 60-year-old men out there who have never run a race before if they would like to run a marathon, they just might say you are crazy.  I imagine most of them would say to me “Take me to church any Sunday you’d like but I’ll never run 26.2 miles in my life!”.  As I look back my experience with this 60-year-old man, I can understand why he chose to complete a marathon before committing to going to church.

Running any distance can be challenging.  Your body may not be physically capable, or you may not feel equipped to run.  There are thousands of resources out there that can guide you from your couch to a 5K or even from your couch to a marathon (written instructions).  Many of these resources are written by experienced athletes and even scientists (experienced mentors).  You can follow simplified plans that work for your time schedule (time flexible).  You can pick an effort level you would like to pursue, even it that means just to finish your running distance (all experience levels accepted).  There are resources on how to plan your eating (written instructions).  There are stores all over for the shoes and gear you need (facilities to support you).  And, I think most important of all, along the way almost everyone you encounter in your running journey will be supportive and encouraging (fellow participants).  Very few people out there are shouting from the rooftops that you should not be running.    The 60-year-old man in this story understood the steps needed to run a marathon and he could envision the end goal.  When committing your life to becoming a Christian, you have access to all the same “tools”.

The support network to being a Christian is available!  We have a Bible (written instructions).  We have spiritual leaders and Biblical scholars (experienced mentors).  We have many opportunities to gather with other believers to worship, pray, and learn and you can also worship, pray, and read the Bible on your own (time flexible).  Anybody who wants to be a Christian is welcome (all experience levels accepted).  We have churches, schools, colleges, stores for materials, coffee shops, unlimited digital resources, etc. (facilities to support you).  Also, there are millions of fellow believers across the world who are walking along side you as Christians (fellow participants).  Something held the 60-year-old man back from making the choice to pursue Christianity even though all the resources were there.  What made the marathon the easier choice?

In my opinion there is a tangible, on-earth-obtainable goal that you can fully experience when running a marathon.  The end is in site, there is a date on the calendar, and you have access to all the tools needed.  When committing to being a Christian, the finish line isn’t quite something you get to fully experience on earth.  Yes, you will get the pleasures of living a life as a Christian, but we must wait to live eternally in Heaven, and we don’t get to experience that finish here on earth.  I believe we as humans have the propensity to choose paths the lead us to a tangible end over paths that offer hope.  We like to see the fruits of our labor.  The 60-year-old man in this story made a perfectly human choice.  He had two great options in front of him and he could have even pursued both at the same time.  But I believe he chose to run his first of many marathons at age 60 because he was going to fully experience the results of his work.

Does this story resonate with you?  Have you been sharing the gospel with somebody for a long time and they just haven’t jumped in with you yet?  We have experienced God’s love as Christians and at times we do not understand why others choose not to accept Him.  Have faith my friend and do not give up.  The 60-year-old man in this story first followed my lead in running a marathon.  I am also excited to tell you that a few years later while training for a marathon, this man also stepped into a walk with Jesus!  Amen and Hallelujah!  This man, my father, is now running a life with Jesus by his side!  The picture you see here is me and my father after he completed his first marathon in 2014.  It is true that it’s easier to convince a 60-year-old man to run a marathon than it is to lead him to Christ!