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Finish the Race!

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I stood there on the starting blocks ready for the sound of the starter’s pistol. Glancing to either side, I found myself in the company of other boys my age, all eager for the race to begin. I was representing my school’s team in a track-and-field event. My first event of the day was the 800-yard dash.

Photo by Tirza van Dijk

The pistol shot rang and I took off. I quickly broke off from the pack and took an early lead. By the time I finished my first lap, I was more than a quarter of a lap ahead.

Before you think I was just that awesome, I should back up a bit. I hadn’t originally trained for the 800-yard dash. At the beginning of the school year, I was actually placed in the 200-yard dash. I was a good sprinter. Then, just three weeks before the event, I was moved into the 800-yard category because our original runner was injured. So, while I had trained to do one 200 yard lap as fast as I could, in the 800 yard dash I would have four laps. I didn’t have long to train for the extra laps. Therefore, my early lead would not last long. And it didn’t.

As I neared the finish of my second lap I was more than a half a lap ahead, but I was really tired. My lungs were burning and my legs felt like rubber. I tried to keep my pace, but my energy was spent. It wasn’t long before the rest of the pack caught up… and passed. By that point, I’m not even sure you could call what I was doing a jog, it was barely a fast walk, but I pressed on.

Rounding the turn to finish my third lap, I looked up at the crowd, hoping to find some encouragement. Instead, I found many of the spectators laughing and pointing—at me. Even my coach was laughing. He was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes. I was devastated.

Ready to Quit

I began to wonder why I should keep running. I didn’t ask for the 800; I wasn’t prepared for the 800. It seemed unfair. As I fast-walked my way pass the starting line, finishing my third lap, I longingly looked at the benches on the inside of the track. I wanted to quit.

Then I heard a familiar voice yelling from the infield. It wasn’t my coach, it was my best friend. He was cheering me on. Oh, to have a friend cheering you on! I did my best to ignore the laughter from the crowd and focused on his encouragement.

I would love to tell you that I got a second wind, charged off, overtaking my competitors, and won the race. But I didn’t. No, I was so far behind that I was only 50 yards into my last lap when everyone else was crossing the finish line. For several minutes it was only me on that track. There was nothing graceful about my efforts anymore, I just wanted to finish.

Completely exhausted, I finally crossed the finish line. My friend, and a few other teammates, ran up to congratulate me. I didn’t place—not even close—but I finished. I finished a race that was much larger than I was prepared for. I may not have won a medal that day, but I did not give up. And as I’ve learned, for much of life it is winning just to finish.

Running the Race Set Before Us

This is even more true when it comes to our spiritual life. Our journey with Jesus is like a race. It’s not one we are necessarily prepared for though. Hebrews 12:1–3 gives us great advice on how to finish the race.

Let go of what entangles you. How well could you race with your legs tangled in rope? Not at all. Just like any other area of life we must see what might get in the way of reaching our goal, and let go of it. Want to be successful at that amazing job that starts early in the morning? Then you might need to let go of your strong desire to sleep in. Want to be successful in losing weight? Then you may need to let go of the donuts. Want to have eternal life? Then you will have to get rid of the things that get in the way of your relationship with Jesus.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the reason we start the race and He’s also the reason we will finish. You must not listen to any who might mock you or try to discourage—keep your eyes on Jesus. Fortunately, when we choose to follow Christ, we run the race with a compassionate Coach and a faithful cheering section. So tune out the naysayers and listen to His encouragement: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Don’t give up! The race may be harder than you originally thought it would be, but keep going. It is worth it to finish. In case we might be tempted to quit, Paul reminds us what is waiting at the finish line: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7).

You may be tired and ready to quit, but do not give up! In this race, finishing is winning. You started with Jesus, stay with Jesus!

Still Following

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One of the more discouraging things a Christian can experience is watching a person reject the Gospel and walk away. It hurts when someone does not want to get to know the God you love. Now imagine how Jesus must have felt when it happened to Him.

It’s a fascinating, yet tragic story found in John 6. The story actually begins in verse 26 with Jesus teaching the crowd about how He would be the Bread of Life. By verse 60, though, it says that many of His disciples considered His teaching to be too hard to understand. Granted, Jesus did mention eating His flesh and drinking his blood (verse 54), so we might be able to sympathize with their lack of understanding. We have the gift of hindsight today to know that Jesus was referring to His sacrifice on the cross and its connection to the Lord’s Supper. Regardless, their confusion as to the meaning seemed to be the last straw for some, since, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (John 6:66).

These are the same disciples that had seen Jesus perform miracles, heal the sick, and teach many truths from heaven. They had walked and talked with Jesus, but now they only walked away. Why? How could they leave?

I struggled with that question. I had assumed that everyone would choose Him and stay. Yet, Jesus said that few would choose the “narrow road” that leads to life (Him), while many would find and choose the “wide road” that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13, 14). I realized that I was asking the wrong question. This is the question I needed to ask: why did the other disciples stay? In verse 67, Jesus asked the twelve if they also wanted to leave, but they didn’t. When everyone else was leaving, they remained. Why?

The question is not why others leave, but why do I stay? The answer to this is vital. Because if I cannot answer this question for myself, how can I give others a reason to start following (or remain)? I can attend a church every weekend, and call myself a Christian, and even label myself with a denominational name-tag, but why do I continue to follow Jesus when others leave?

If we are only following Jesus because its the cool thing to do, soon it will become uncool and we’ll stop following. If we follow only because of what Jesus can give us, then if He doesn’t give us something we want, we’ll stop following. If we follow only because it’s easy, then as soon as the journey gets difficult, we’ll stop following. If we follow out of guilt, or because we’re forced, we’ll stop following any chance we get. So, what reason would cause a disciple to stay?

Peter’s reply contains the true reason any of us remain: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68, 69). This is why we start following Jesus and the reason we stay following Him: salvation is not found in anyone else. He Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we have come to understand and believe this, how can we leave?

There may be many excuses for leaving His side, or rejecting His teachings, or refusing to go further, but Jesus urges us to remain. Jesus asks us to trust Him and stick it out with Him:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. … By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:4, 5, 8–11)

Friends, it will become increasingly difficult to follow God. Many do not want to hear His truth anymore, and may even try to pull us from it. So we have to make a choice: leave His side or stay following.

I know Jesus has the words of eternal life and I believe He is the Holy One of God. That is why I’m still following.

Photo by Nathan McBride on Unsplash

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27, 28).

When God Says Wait

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If you have been a follower of God for any length of time, you know that God doesn’t always do things in a way we normally expect. God, in fact, is quite unpredictable. Of course, this has more to do with our expectations of His behavior than how predictable His actions really are. Think about it: when we pray we normally only listen for a “yes” or “no” answer. When we are listening for instructions for ministry—or some other thing we might be seeking God’s will in our lives for—we are typically looking for a green light or a red light. Yet, God doesn’t always work in the black and white. Sometimes He says wait—not yes or no, not go or stop—just wait.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

I don’t know if there is any word I like less than that. Wait. It can be such a frustrating word. When you are watching the clock for a loved one to finally arrive, “wait” can be frustrating. As children, I think we experience this side of the word the most. Nothing was worse than waiting. I remember having to wait in the car for my mom to finish saying goodbye to friends—waiting that seemed forever!

On the other hand, that word can save a lot of grief. Like waiting until you research something thoroughly before you buy into it. How many times I have heard, or even said, “I wish I had waited.” Waiting isn’t always bad.

It makes me think of a time in the Bible when some people had to wait on God. Well, the Bible is filled with such stories, but the one I am considering is the one told at the beginning of the book of Acts. The disciples were all gathered together in one place. This time the atmosphere was different from their earlier gatherings, they weren’t gathered in fear. Time had passed and things were different. Before, sadness and horror filled their hearts as they witnessed the murder of their master. Now, joy and peace engulfed them. Their Master was no longer dead! He is alive! Jesus is alive! Their joy was unspeakable!

After spending a little over a month with Him, they witnessed a miraculous event—Jesus’ ascension into heaven. It was so awesome that angels had to snap them from their staring and remind them that this same Jesus was going to come back in the very same way. But now they had work to do: take this wonderful news of a risen Savior to the world. Not long before, Jesus had given them (and us) a great commission to make disciples, baptizing and teaching them (Matthew 28:18–20). They were told to go into the whole world. What a better place to start than a packed Jerusalem?

That was the reason they are gathered together. Being Pentecost, you might think that they would have started preaching and holding evangelistic meetings already. What an opportunity! So many people gathered in Jerusalem for the sacred festival. But there they were, gathered in a room, hidden from the crowds. Some may consider them lazy, or waiting for better training, or that they were just trying to get out of something that they didn’t really want to do.

But, believe it or not, they were actually following Jesus’ command. Yes, Jesus had told them to go out into the world, but just few days earlier He had told them to wait (Acts 1:4). Strange isn’t it? But it wasn’t just waiting for waiting’s sake. They were to “wait for the gift my Father promised.” Reading on in Acts 4, you will see that this gift was the Holy Spirit. They were waiting for the gift that would give them the ability, the power, and the courage to do what God asked of them.

I wonder what would have happened if they hadn’t waited… like us. Modern Christians don’t seem to like to wait. That upper room was filled with disciples waiting deep in prayer before it became filled with the Holy Spirit. When’s the last time you saw a group of Christians today wait in prayer until God says “go”?

Oh we pray. Many times, even. I have been guilty of this on countless occasions. We’ll say a quick prayer, then run ahead of God using our brain power in an attempt to figure out God’s plans. We hold way more committee meetings than we do prayer meetings. Some think that just sitting around and praying is a waste of time. I’d argue that, according to far too many stories in the Bible, running ahead of God is the real waste of time. In fact, waiting on God in prayer is the best use of time a Christian could do! God may have something incredible in store for us if we would only wait.

King David seemed to also know a lot about this waiting and learned to like it. Notice some of the things he wrote in the Psalms:

  • “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14);
  • “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man that carries out evil devices! … For the evil doers shall be cut off, but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the land” (Psalm 37:7, 9);
  • “But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer” (Psalm 38:15);
  • “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1);
  • “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope” (Psalm 130:5).

The scriptures reveal that the people of God learn that it is not a bad thing when God says wait. Isaiah 40:31 says, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Waiting on God is a good thing. As a matter of fact, “It will be said on that day, ‘Behold this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation” (Isaiah 25:9). On that great day, every disciple—every follower of God that has been willing to wait on Him—will confess these words and will know that it was completely worth it!