The Longest Marathon Ever

Sometime after the beginning of time

Oh, sure, time had a beginning,

And as sure as there is a God

Time will be sure to have an ending.

But enough of that for now

I am here to tell you about a race,

Not about a sport or a people in time

But a metaphor we can easily trace.

On your mark, set, and they were off…

Just two in this race were involved,

This race is even greater today

As all of life around these two revolves.

Two competitors in a metaphorical race

On their mark at the beginning of time:

One fighting for supremacy at all cost

In a bid to contaminate the human mind

Everything was set and they were off

One of them forging to the front,

While the other was established from eternity

The other had more fans at the last count.

This is not a hundred metres sprint

But it is more like a marathon,

It is the longest marathon there ever was

Long before the Olympics had begun.

You’ve been patient up to this point

While wondering who the competitors are,

If by now you have guessed them both

Then you are a natural star.

           

Yes “Truth” and “Lies” are in this race

They were at it from the beginning of time,

“Truth” is synonymous with the Word of God

And “Lies” is the Devil aka Satan the Fraud.

One has a particularly large fan club

These are fans with very itching ears:

They stand on the side and shout the more

Whenever “Truth” appears to draw near.

It appears right now that “Lies” is ahead

Certainly he possesses the majority

But while the duration of this race is time

“Truth” is in it for eternity.

It appears they are rounding the bend

And presently heading for the straight,

Time’s clock is striking the hour

And for the majority it might be too late.

“Lies” is in the lane that is broad and crowded

“Truth” is holding the straight and narrow

“Lies” has a lot of room to negotiate

But “Truth” has a standard to follow.

“Truth” takes the lane to and from the cross

But “Lies” sees this lane as pure folly,

Easy street lane is his eager pursuit

In which he can run footloose and freely.

While “Lies” appears to be the winner now

The race result has not yet been declared

There have been many and blatant infractions

So “Truth” has nothing at all to fear.

“Lies” is destined to lose by default

Since he has never run the straight lane

And while there are times he runs like truth

Do understand deception is his game.

Run with “Truth” and you run with a winner

Run with “Lies” and you will lose,

The beautiful thing in this race my friend

Is that you get to run in the lane you choose.

Stewart Russell © October 2018