THE END OF THE RACE

When I was a young man, I had my sights set on running the Boston Marathon. 

On the morning of April 20, 1981, I stood at the starting line with nearly four thousand other entrants. 

26.2 miles was the distance from Hopkinton to downtown Boston. 

When I recall my run that day, I remember how it felt toward the end of the race. Both my body and mind were greatly fatigued after the 3-hour battle. There was a strong temptation to walk as my endurance waned ... but I was able to fight through the discomfort because of the enthusiastic throng of spectators lining the course. 

During those last few miles, applause and shouts rang from a great cloud of witnesses ... KEEP RUNNING!  STAY THE COURSE!  NOT MUCH FURTHER!  YOU CAN DO IT! 

One stride after another, one stride after another, a final turn onto Boylston Street, and there it was ... the famed Boston Marathon Finish Line. I was met by race volunteers who ushered me to the place where I could recover. I lowered myself to the ground, ate a few cookies to regain my energy, and watched with wonder at all the joyful people gathered there. 

It was a good day.

The memory of that event is a reminder of another, much more significant race that started the very next month. On May 17th, at the age of twenty-seven, I surrendered my life to Christ. The following verses became a picture of something to which I could relate ...

 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

We have endured the struggles of living in this fallen world for a long time, but the end of our spiritual race is near. 

Finish strong, my friend ... for just around the corner awaits our Blessed Savior.