Run for the Gold

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My favorite part of the summer Olympics is the track events.

Usain Bolt winning an Olympic race. Picture by PhotoBobil.

Leading up to Rio, the fastest person on earth is the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Usain set world records to win half of his six Olympic gold medals. His best speed so far: almost 28 miles per hour. He’s a cheetah among humans. (The fast cat, however, can run about twice that speed.)

The Bible describes Christianity as a race.

That doesn’t mean we have to pursue the Olympic motto, “Faster, higher, stronger.” God doesn’t pressure you to read your Bible faster,  have a higher percentage of faith-sharing moments per day, nor be stronger in praying out loud, than others.

We grow spiritually at different paces. As Christians, we don’t compete with each other. The Bible opposes comparing ourselves with other Christians (II Corinthians 10:12).But God does want each of us to keep heading toward the finish line.

Run to Finish the Race

In 1968, Tanzanian runner John Akwari ran in the Olympics marathon. During the race, John fell and hurt his leg. He crossed the finished line with a blood-stained bandage wrapped around the leg. He finished in last place.

Watching him hobble in, grimacing from the pain, someone asked John why he didn’t quit the race. He answered, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles just to start the race. They sent me to finish the race.

There are two extremes to avoid. The Christian race isn’t about outrunning everyone else, nor is it defined by quitting just because we face a setback. It’s about finishing as strong as we can. The Apostle Paul stated in II Timothy 4:7-8 that he anticipated a Heavenly prize for remaining faithful to God and finishing the course.

Run Without Distraction

For centuries runners have worn ankle weights for resistance training. But once a Christian is on the track, we’re to “Strip off every weight that slows us down” (Hebrews 12:1, NLT).

We’re to keep our eyes on the goal. The Apostle Paul determined that to finish the race strong, “I run with purpose in every step” (I Corinthians 9:26). Paul refused to be distracted. He constantly focused on the finish line.

Run Beyond the Wall

Runners have come to expect a predictable event that happens to them at unpredictable times. It’s called hitting the wall. When it happens, your body and mind mutiny. Pain, anguish, and fatigue overcome you. However, there’s still more race to be run.

As a person, you never know when you’ll hit the wall in life. As a Christian, there’s hope for living through hitting the wall and finishing the race.

Derek Redmond of Great Britain competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. During the 400 metres semi-final race, he was positioned to win. Instead, his body revolted.

During the race, he suddenly grabbed the back of his right leg. He began hobbling. Then, he knelt on the track while the other runners passed him. It would later be revealed that Derek had torn a hamstring. Refusing medical attention, he got up and began limping to complete the lap.

His father came out of the stands. He pushed past security, finally reaching Derek. He couldn’t talk his son into quitting. So they continued together. They reached the finish line with 65,000 spectators giving father and son a standing ovation.

Derek did more than hit the wall. But his experience reminds us that life’s unpredictable events can knock the breath out of us and slow our pace. For you, it may be a financial meltdown, a relational fiasco, or a strength-zapping illness.

The Road Ahead:

1. In your spiritual race, do you sometimes feel more like a slow, giant tortoise than a fast cheetah? Keep running. Charles Spurgeon once said, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.” Keep the faith. Jesus didn’t die for you just so you could start the race. He died for you so you could cross the finish line.
2. Has the unthinkable happened? Have you hit the wall, hard? The race isn’t over. Lean on the Holy Spirit while you find your second wind and regain your stride.
3. You may in the position to help others keep moving forward. Who can you help pace while continuing to keep purpose in every step you take?

Further Fuel: I Corinthians 9:25; Philippians 3:14.