Finishing the Race

 

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

—Acts 20:24

One of the most humiliating experiences I ever had in my hated Physical Education class in high school was cross country. I abhorred cross country!

We would start out from the high school and run up a hill into a nearby neighborhood. Once there we would wind around the streets of that neighborhood and eventually run back to the school, around the track three times, and cross the finish line. I remember always coming in last—usually twenty or twenty-five minutes behind the previous person to cross the finish line.

“Well, at least you finished the race,” the teacher would say. “Although I don’t really know why you bothered.”

I bothered because somehow I had to finish the race. That’s the underlying sentiment the Apostle Paul shares in Acts 20:24:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

In my mind, the spiritual race that Paul is talking about in this Scripture verse is far, far more important than any cross country race. Nevertheless, finishing the race is important.

Let’s purpose in our hearts today to finish the race God has given us and to finish as strong as He will enable us to do so. That’s a worthy goal.

And, when you watch the Olympic Games the next time they appear on television, remember this verse. Imagine the runners are ambassadors of Christ striving to complete the task He has given them. Notice how they finish as strong as they can.

 

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