Running with a Message

Welcome to “Inscribed on My Heart.”

The story is told that Phidippides was a professional runner who lived during the time of the Persian-Greek Wars in the fifth century B.C. The Athenian army was encamped outside of Athens on the field of Marathon facing the most powerful army in the world. Phidippides was called on to carry a message requesting help for the beleaguered, weary Athenian army to Spartan generals (over 140 miles away). Phidippides ran the course in about 36 hours. He was given a classic good news/bad news answer: yes! The Spartan army would come to assist the Athenians. Unfortunately for him, the Spartan generals had a return message to Athens: they would come to help fight the Persians, but only once the moon was full, so as to follow religious dictates. And so, Phidippides paced his way back to Athens another 140 miles. The Athenians, left alone to face the great, advancing Persian army, launched a surprise attack and, though outnumbered four to one, defeated the Persian army. Phidippides, having barely recovered his breath from the last 140 mile jaunt, and having fought alongside his compatriots all morning, was called on again; this time, he had to run 26 miles to the city of Athens to warn of the Persian fleet headed for Athens. He ran the course to Athens, delivered the message and dropped over dead from exhaustion. Athens eventually united with Sparta and other Greek cities, formed a single great army, and consequently an empire, and the rest, as they say, is history.

One man carried a message. Two factors led to the defeat of an enemy and the eventual establishment of a kingdom. One factor was Phidippides’ skill and the other was his willingness to invest his skill for his leader, the Athenian general. Do you think that Phidippides ran those 306 miles thinking that he would save an army and that the Greek empire would come, not only into a reality, but historical and cultural significance as well? Do you think thoughts of greatness filled his head? Did he run along timing his splits and pacing his miles so that he could set a record? Probably not? “I hope they one day name an Olympic event in my honor,” probably did not occupy his thoughts. He was a soldier who happened to also be a professional runner. Part of his duty that day in 490 B.C. was to carry a message. This he did, faithfully, dutifully, zealously- for the army of Athens depended on his obedience and his skill.

In Habakkuk 2: 2 & 3, the prophet wrote: Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."

Most of us have a message burning in our hearts. As did Phidippides, I have a message, a revelation, if you will. I do not have tablets with which I run (how awkward would that be? Did Phidippides have tablets, a scroll or was the request for help from the Athenian general emblazoned on Phidippides’ heart and mind?) But there is a message written, emblazoned, inscribed on my heart, with which I run: the message is about the love, grace and sovereignty of a living, mighty God, and of His kingdom.

So I blog…it’s a lot easier than running 306 miles. Maybe blogging is the new running with a message. And maybe, just maybe, I can be a herald of this wonderful message of God’s sovereign grace and love.