Life is challenging for believers because we're living between Eden's perfection and our eternal home with Christ. This temporary existence requires us to run a spiritual race while carrying the weight of worldly attachments. Our salvation rests entirely on Jesus Christ's finished work, not our own efforts. Like the Israelites in Babylon, we're called to live faithfully in our current circumstances while maintaining an eternal perspective. The key is fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured suffering for the joy of presenting us to the Father. We must identify and lay aside the temporary weights that hinder our spiritual progress while bringing glory to Christ's name.