Your Race is Set!

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 NKJV)

I read this scripture today and I saw something I've never seen before. 

"the race that is SET BEFORE us" Does this mean, we aren't just haphazardly bouncing from place to place but we have a race that He has set before us? 

What happens "in the natural" when a race is "set"? The Ironman was just completed on the Big Island. The Ironman is one big race! I've never been involved in setting a race so I am unsure of what all goes on behind the scenes prior to race day. I do know, for the Ironman,  there are parades, community events, highway and street closures, road blocks manned by police (do not ask me how I know that *grin*), store and bank closures, flights, hotels/resorts are booked, and there are no rental cars available. Triathletes fly in from all over the world to compete with local triathletes. There are Ironman Tshirts and memorabilia available for purchase everywhere we look. 

To further elaborate:

An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. Most Ironman events have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race, where the Ironman race starts at 7:00 AM, the mandatory swim cut off for the 2.4-mile (3.9 km) swim is 2 hours 20 minutes, the bike cut off time is 5:30 PM, and all finishers must complete their marathon by midnight. The name Ironman Triathlon refers to both the original Ironman triathlon and the annual Ironman World Championship. Also called Ironman Hawaii, the world championships of the event, held annually in Hawaii since 1978 (with an additional race in 1982), are now preceded by a series of qualifying events. Ironman Triathlon became known for its grueling length, harsh race conditions, and television coverage.

Thank you Wikipedia!

So, experiencing the sights and sounds of Ironman and witnessing the preparations I COULD actually see made me think of "the race that is set before us".  The race that is set before us is no small event. 

• He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing! (Ephesians 1:3 NKJV)
• He has commanded His angels to keep charge over us in all our ways! (Psalm 91:11, NIV)
• His race is perfect! (Jeremiah 29:11)
• We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses! (Hebrews 12:1)

He has set the race for you!