I ran track as a young teenager in high school. My coach wanted me to try out for the 880-yard run, because I had long legs. The distance was two laps around the football field. This half mile was a strenuous race at a fast, grueling pace. I was always exhausted at the end, but the reward of metals I received at meets made all the hard work at afterschool track-practice worth the effort that I put into it. I had more endurance because of it.
The type of athletic shoes worn with cleated soles, and the wind
sprints at practice and breathing techniques, prepared me to win. My body was made strong for competition and I
did well, because of good coaching and personal discipline.
On occasion, I experienced what is called a second wind. It is the feeling of an exhilarating burst of energy that happens when
a runner is becoming fatigued. It is like
a breath of fresh air or inhaling pure oxygen.
This sense of bliss was always welcomed when the going got tough.
I could always hear Coach urging me on and calling out the elapsed
time as I drew nearer to him on my first lap, which helped me pick up the pace. I not only wanted to please him, I wanted to
win the race. He was always there to
encourage me with, “You can do it!”
The attitude I demonstrated to Coach and my own state of mind played an important role in the success of each lap and the results at the end of the race. I always had a made-up mind to endure to the end no matter what shape the track was in or what elements that I had to bear with regards to weather conditions.
Some schools that I competed at were lucky to have a football field or track at all do to the lack of funding in that district.
These unkept surfaces were less than desirable to run on, because of the
ruts and unevenness that puddled at times due to the field sprinklers going off or passing
rainclouds that dumped water the day before a big event.
The build-up of wet soil on my shoes made it difficult to
turn a satisfactory time at the end of the race, but all runners had to tolerate
the same degree of challenges as me. The
success or failure to place was dependent upon where the runners landed their
feet on the track, careful not to twist an ankle or fall. The amount of hard work and dedication that athletes did at practices to ready themselves for upcoming meets was invaluable.
Preparation, both mentally and physically, had a lot to do
with winning races. My dad always said
that a good mindset affected the end results of something wanted. In essence, he was saying that if a person
wants something bad enough, they will not give up when the going gets tough. An “I can do it” attitude plays an important
part in winning.
A winner never quits, and a quitter never wins. Two more phrases that inspire me are: “Keep
on keeping on,” and “Inch by inch anything’s a cinch.” No matter what comes our way, if we maintain
a healthy relationship with God and not give up, we will finish the course a
winner when we pass from this life to the hereafter. It takes watching where we place our feet on
this road of life and looking out for pitfalls that are filled with the miry
clay of sin.
The Lord is always encouraging us saying, “You can make it.” He is there for us and never leaves us alone
to run the race without having prepared us with His Word and breathing into us
the breath of Life. Jesus is at the
finish line waiving us home to victory. The
Holy Spirit is our second wind when we become tired and face situations that test our faith.
Our existence on earth is a race. Instead of receiving a metal at the finish
line, we inherit eternal life in heaven as our reward. Jesus will welcome us across the finish line and
place a crown of righteousness on our head, because we endured till the end. I believe that He will embrace us and
exclaim, “Well done!”
Though metals were nice to display on my varsity sweater for
the wins in 880-yard runs, a robe of purest white will be mine along with a
crown of sonship, which will be the ultimate prize for finishing the course.
Though ruts of temptation surround me, and the mire of
sin tries to slow me down, my healthy relationship with Jesus always provides
the stamina I need to finish the race-of-life.
Keeping my eyes on the finish line and Who is cheering me on, gives me
the wherewithal to keep on keeping on. I
desire to please the Lord in all things, and yes, I want to win the prize.
The reward at the end is what matters, not the circumstances
we face on the journey. It will be worth
it all when we see Jesus and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful
servant; enter into the joy of the Lord.”
When I cross the finish line and break the blood-stained
ribbon, it will be a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus endured on the cross
for my successful run. He paid the price
for sin when He willingly shed His blood and died for you and me.
(John 15:13) “Greater love has no one than this, than
to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
With our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace, our lungs filled with the breath of God, and our eyes focused on Jesus, all will bring a victorious win in the race we are running.
(2 Timothy 4:7,8) “I have fought the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Vs. 8 “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me
only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
To be a winner takes discipline and courage to follow the Ten
Commandments of God, which make the race a successful one. Remember, Jesus was and is a perfect example of discipline
and obedience to Father God, while obeying the Ten Commandments. He is our example.
If anyone ran the race with purpose, Jesus did. He endured to the end, thus, teaching us that
all things are possible when we trust in God.
Our hope of finishing the race will become reality one day. We will see God face to face. Wow!
There is no greater prize than this!
Thank you, Jesus, for making it possible for me to behold the Creator of
all things! I am His child, because of
You!
(1 John 3:2) “Beloved, now we are children of God; and
it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
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