Cross country running is a unique challenge. Unlike a sprint or a neatly marked track race, cross country often winds through unpredictable terrain—hills, mud, and forests—with no finish line in sight until the very end. Runners push forward, trusting the course map and the markers along the way, even when they can’t see the destination. In many ways, this uncertainty mirrors Abraham’s journey of faith in Genesis 12:1-3.
When God called Abraham, He didn’t give him a clear map or an obvious finish line. Instead, He simply said, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Gen 12:1). Abraham had to trust that God would lead him to the right place, just as cross-country runners must trust the course.
Yet when Abraham finally arrived in Canaan, the land God had promised, he did not take possession of it. Instead, he lived as a foreigner, knowing that the true fulfillment of God’s promise would come to his descendants in the distant future (Gen 15:13-16). This must have been difficult - running the race faithfully, only to realize that the finish line was still beyond reach. But Abraham continued to trust in God’s plan, understanding that his journey was part of something much bigger than himself.
Abraham’s faithfulness wasn’t just for his own sake—it was for the generations after him. He followed God not because he would see all the blessings in his lifetime, but because his obedience would shape the future. This is much like being a Christian parent. Parents raise their children in faith, not only for their own spiritual journey but to pass on God’s promises and truth to the next generation. Just as Abraham trusted God for the future of his descendants, Christian parents invest in their children’s faith, knowing that the seeds they plant today will bear fruit in the future.
Cross country runners don’t run aimlessly. They follow the markers, listen to their coaches, and trust the process. In the same way, Christians are called to trust God’s direction, even when the path isn’t clear. Like Abraham, we may not always see the finish line, but we can run with faith, knowing that God’s promises will lead us to something greater.