Finishing the race strongly

In his book "The Journey", Billy Graham , the great evangelist of the 20th century, said that it is not enough to just start the race well but it is more important to finish the race strongly.

Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus... who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

One inspiring story which comes to mind about endurance relates to the 1968 Olympics in Mexico. John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania was the last runner to come in on a 26 mile marathon. In the course of the marathon, he fell badly and was all bloodied and bandaged but he did not give up. Instead, he persevered and hobbled through his final lap before collapsing. When he entered the stadium, all eyes were trained on him. A reported subsequently asked Akhwari why he did not quit the race. He replied "My country did not send me seven thousand miles to start the race. They sent me seven thousand miles to finish it."

The Christian journey is a marathon not a sprint. To finish well, we need to train ourselves in the same way athletes train for marathons. The apostle Paul makes the same point in 1 Corinthians 9 when he states :

"Do you not know that in a race the runners run but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

Therefore, keep running and do not quit. Persevere for the crown of life which awaits us at the end to all who endure and to all who overcome.