Focus on the Finish Line

When you’re running a race and coming toward the end, you’re exhausted. You don’t feel as though you could go on another moment. But you realize that you’re almost at the end and have to finish the race you’ve begun.

When I was in high school, I was a good short–distance runner, and my oldest son, Christopher, was a runner as well. I took him to various track meets, and then I heard a little rumor that after one of the meets, there would be a race for the fathers.

I had a new pair of running shoes in the trunk of the car, just in case the rumor was true. And sure enough, it was. I put on my shoes, went to the starting line, and started sizing up my competition. And then the starter pistol went off.

Suddenly older guys were passing me; I couldn’t believe how fast they were. I was pouring it on, but about halfway into the race, I realized that not only was I going to lose, but I was going to lose horribly. So I just walked off the track.

Writing to the believers in Philippi, the apostle Paul said, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14 NKJV).

He also made this statement in 2 Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (4:7 NKJV). Paul used the Greek word agōn for “fight,” which translates to “struggle” or “struggling.”

This reminds us that we need to keep going and finish our race, even when it gets difficult.

How are you doing as a follower of Jesus? How are you doing in the race of life? Are you winning or losing? Are you gaining ground, or are you losing ground?

Press on. Keep running.