Strong to the Finish

When I was in college, I ran cross-country. Our competitions were held on area golf courses. Race officials placed flags on the course to mark the way for runners. A certain color indicated “left turn,” another meant “right turn,” a third meant “straight ahead.”

If the runners wanted a medal, they had to follow the proper course. A runner couldn’t decide, “This is a six-mile race, but I’ve only got four miles in me this morning. I’m going to take a shortcut. I hope nobody minds.”

It’s true for Christians, too. We have to run the race God intended us to run, not somebody else’s race or the race of our own choosing. Yet it’s easy to compare ourselves with others. When the race seems tough, it’s easy to look at someone else and say, “If I had his race to run, no problem. If I had his paycheck, if I had a spouse, if I had his good health, I could run with perseverance.”

We’re tempted to quit because our course is harder than someone else’s, but God says, “I want you to run this race. Don’t think about others. Just look at me.”

Hitting the WallAt the beginning of a marathon, runners feel strong and energetic. For years, they’ve followed a regimen prescribing what to eat, how much to train, and how much to rest. They’re ready.

Then the gun sounds, and they take off. Sixteen miles into that marathon, though, they no longer feel energetic, do they?

Blisters begin to rub raw; it feels like a knife has lodged in their side. Legs turn to mush, and muscles scream in pain.

It happens in life, too. We get down the road, and there’s pain involved. We say, “This hurts, so it must not be God’s will.”

But pain doesn’t mean it’s no longer God’s will. Sometimes the race God calls us to run is filled with pain. Remember that God didn’t call you just to begin a noble task or relationship. He wants us to keep running and be great finishers.

World-class runners have a “kick.” A “kick” is a runner’s term that means when they get to that last one hundred yards, they can still sprint to the finish line and win the race. God wants us to have a “kick.” No matter what the circumstance, God wants us to finish strong.

Never Stay DownThe 1981 movie Chariots of Fire portrays the true story of Eric Liddell, a man who competed for Great Britain in the 1924 Olympics before becoming a missionary.

One memorable scene that appeared to be Hollywood fiction, actually happened. A year before the Olympic showdown, Liddell ran in a meet between England, Ireland, and Scotland. In the 440-yard event, moments after the gun sounded, Liddell tangled feet with J.J. Gillies of England and tumbled to the track. Dazed, Liddell sat there, not knowing whether he could get up, when the official screamed, “Get up and run!”

He jumped to his feet and pursued the pack, now a full twenty yards ahead of him.

With forty yards to go, he pulled into third place, then second. Right at the tape he passed Gillies, stuck his chest out, won the race, collapsing in total exhaustion.

The next day The Scotsman newspaper reported, “The circumstances in which Liddell won the race made it a performance bordering on the miraculous.” Some described it as “the greatest track performance they had ever seen.”

Some of you have been knocked down by foolish decisions, by a person, or even Satan himself. When we’re down on the track, we’re ashamed and depressed. The only real shame is to stay down. God’s word compels you, “Get up and run!” Forget what lies behind and run for the prize God has waiting for you.

Philippians 1:6 doesn’t say, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day you fail and flop on the track.” It says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

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