Do you remember Jack Paar? He was an American talk show host, author, comedian, and film actor. He was also the second host of the Tonight Show from 1957 to 1962.

Jack Paar once mused that his life was like an obstacle race, and he was the main obstacle.

Do you ever feel like you’re the main obstacle in your life’s race? Sometimes I do. Even at the age of 64 (and counting), I still trip over myself, repeating past mistakes and committing the same sins I sought forgiveness for the day before.

The apostle Paul also knew what it was like to be his main obstacle: “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. Oh, what a miserable person I am!” (Romans 7:19,21,24 NLT).

I don’t know if Jack Paar had help in overcoming his main obstacle, but Paul did, and so do we: “Who will free [us] from this life that is dominated by sin and death? … [God] sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins” (Romans 7:24; 8:3 NLT).

Our sins will continue to trip us up, but thanks to Jesus, our obstacle race is already won!