By Tom Shanklin

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:2-3, AV).

Each of us has a race to run in order to fulfill our calliing in life.

Your race is unique, but whatever you are called to do, there will be opportunities to quit along the way. I have seen this many times in my own life, and I have also seen it in others. I have also seen many drop out of the race completely. Others have lost their zeal. They are no longer running, but just maintaining.

It may be personal difficulties. It may be discouragement because of the actions of others or lack of resources. It may even be because you have become angry at God. But whatever it is, it is a tactic of Satan to make you lose your vision, give up, and quit your race.

The book of Habakkuk records a conversation between the prophet and the Lord. Habakkuk is complaining to the Lord about the actions of his fellow countrymen in Judah. He complains about violence, lawlessness, strife, and contention among God’s people, and wonders when God is ever going to do something about it.

When the Lord tells Habakkuk that He plans to bring judgment upon Judah for their sins by allowing the Chaldeans to capture and carry many of them captive unto Babylon, Habakkuk becomes even more depressed. He wonders how God can allow an evil nation to triumph over the people of God.

Habakkuk airs his complaint to God but finally decides to be quiet and listen to what God has to say. That’s when the Lord spoke to him to write the vision, and make it clear and understandable, so that God’s people may run with the vision and accomplish His will.”

You see, when we lose hope, when our vision becomes cloudy and when we can’t understand what is going on around us, we need the Word of God to set us strait and renew our vision, so that we might continue to run our race.

Habakkuk’s job, like all the other authors of the books of the Bible was to write the vision. Our part is the run with the vision that God has given. You see, we don’t see the whole picture because the vision will be accomplished at a later date, but it will surely come to fruition. God’s plans will come to pass, even though we don’t see them now with our natural eyes. As God said to Habakkuk:

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14, AV).

The Lord was saying, “Ultimately, I will have my way. The whole earth will be filled with my glory. I am the God of history, I have a plan, and it will come to pass. Though it may not come in your timing, it will come, so keep running your race.”

God spoke a similar word to Moses when the children of Israel failed to go up and possess the land that He had given them. God said:

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD. (Numbers 14:21, AV).

You see, people may let you down. They may dishonor God and rebel against Him. His plans may be thwarted by people who lose heart and quit, but nonetheless, the Lord will have His way. His plans WILL come to pass.

As a result of their fear and disobedience, Israel spent 40 years wandering around in the wilderness. But afterward, the men of faith, Joshua and Caleb, led the people to possess their possessions in the promised land.

There’s a message there. Don’t quit! Write the vision! Read the vision! Keep running your race.

Right now we are living in the end days. We see many Bible prophecies being fulfilled. The things that Jesus told us would happen are coming to pass. You can read His predictions in Matthew 24. They read like the headlines of 2024—wars and rumors of wars, nation against nation, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, persecutions, betrayal, hate, false prophets, and “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

But in the midst of all that, Jesus gives us a vision:

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14, AV).

Yes, the end is coming … the end of this age. But there is a better age to come. The earth shall filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. But meanwhile, we have a job to do. We have a mission to accomplish. Each of us have a part. Many are called as evangelists to proclaim the message. Many are called to care for those who are coming into the Kingdom. Many are called in a supportive role, and we are all called to be witnesses. 

Everyone’s job is important. We are called to take this Gospel into all the world. Don’t get so caught up in the current circumstance that you miss your calling and purpose. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t be distracted. 

Many places in scripture speak of the race that we are to run. Notice what the apostle Paul says to the church at Corinth:

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: (1 Corinthians 9:24-26, AV).

Paul says, “I’m going to run my race. I’m going to discipline myself and keep my eyes on the prize. I know what I’m fighting for. I have not lost my vision. I’m running my race to win.”

God has a plan for your life. As you run with His vision, it will unfold, and you will begin to understand your part. You will begin to flow in your anointing.

Sometimes we are running, but we are on the wrong course. We need to change our trajectory. It’s like the farmer who saw the letters in the sky—“GP.” He assumed it meant “Go preach!” But in fact, God was saying “Go plow!”

Whether you are to “go preach” or “go plow,” do it all for the Lord. Run your race with urgency and find out how you can advance the kingdom through your life. Don’t lose hope because of difficult circumstances. Don’t quit running because of problems in the Church or calamities in the world. God is not quitting on you! He is not giving up because of the failure of some. He will have His way, and you are destined to be a part of it.

Find your place. Keep running your race and don’t quit, in Jesus’ name! Amen.

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