“I’ll go the distance; I’ll go the distance!” (“I’ll Go the Distance, Maranatha! Music)
This is not the same as Michael Bolton’s “Go the Distance” used in the animated movie, Hercules. In fact, the messages oppose one another. The message of “Go the Distance” is about self-reliance and self-glory. The message of “I’ll Go the Distance” is about reliance on God’s love and obedience to His calling.
We men need the fellowship of our brothers if we are to “go the distance” on our Christian journey. It is easy to get caught up in the energy of a moment for our own glory and strive only for what we can gain. Conversely, we can lose our momentum when we’re back in our everyday routine. Back home we face the pressures of work, home, and family, and just as the energy fades away, our resolve to remain steadfast fades as well.
As Christian warriors, God does not intend for us to “go the distance” alone, for ourselves, or in our own strength. We need the strength provided by the fellowship and accountability of other men. Moses had Aaron and Hur to hold up his arms as Joshua battled the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). Jonathan had his armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14:1-15). David had his mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8-39). Jesus needed the companionship of Peter, James, and John as He went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.
“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.’ And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’” (Matthew 26:36-38, ESV)
That Jesus’ three top guys were less than supportive should not dissuade us from seeking our own “mighty men” to walk with us. The Book of Ecclesiastes encourages this.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! . . And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10,12, ESV)
The Apostle Paul always had one or more travel companions on his missionary journeys. Paul was no “Lone Ranger” missionary. His epistles bear witness to his acknowledged need for the fellowship and prayers of other believers. We would be foolish to think we could travel this road alone. We are, after all, in a spiritual battle with the forces of darkness. As Christian warriors, we need to “lock shields” with each other. Why? Because we all have our “blind spots!” Individually, we are vulnerable to attack from blind spots in our lives, but together we are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37)!
The author of the Book of Hebrews encourages us to “go the distance.”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)
“I’ll go the distance; I’ll go the distance! I will not compromise, pressing on to win the prize. In Christ Jesus, I’ll go the distance.” (Maranatha!)
We need to surround ourselves with other brothers, Men of Valor, to run the race, so that we also might “go the distance.”
What say you, Man of Valor?
Adapted from Men of Valor Devotional by Ron Helle, 1 November 2024