“Running well” was the best description Paul could use of the Galatians—in the past! But something had changed. They were no longer living in the freedom of the gospel of grace. Interestingly, Paul frequently depicts the Christian life in terms of a sporting competition. In Galatians 2:2 he had already expressed his fear that he “might be running, or had run in vain.” In another place the Christian life and ministry is portrayed as a boxing match: “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (1 Cor 9:26-27). Paul was motivated, at least in part, by the fear of failure. You see, starting well in the Christian life is important, but a person must finish well also.

“Running” is identified with “obeying the truth.” That truth is this: we are no longer obligated to live by the Law, for that is impossible. The truth also includes the fact that we are freed to live for God because of the grace of Christ, something the Law could not accomplish. So, then, to obey the truth means that we order our lives according to grace, not according to Law. That is the “persuasion” God has called people to.

Jesus warned about the problem of starting well but not finishing well. Though not specifically talking about legalism, His parable of the sower and the seed (Luke 8 ) highlights two scenarios where things begin well, but don’t end well. Seed cast on thorny soil represents believers whose spiritual life is choked out by worldly cares. Today, do we not see Christians caught up in all kinds of worldly concerns: movies, media, internet, money, possessions, conflicts and recreation. They have plenty of time for such enticements of the flesh, but little time for things that really matter. They began well, but do not finish well.

Seed cast onto rocky ground represents believers whose spiritual life is shallow and as a result they turn spiritually dry and wither away. Those who do not study the word, pray or exercise their faith will eventually be sidelined and proved to be useless for producing spiritual fruit.

We must guard against the flesh’s propensity for submitting to the bondage of rules and regulations or to worldly enticements. We cannot blame others for “enforcing” the rules, but we must take responsibility for rooting ourselves in the truth and obeying the truth of God’s grace by living in freedom!