Finish the Race

By

Shelby G. Floyd

January 9, 2010

When Paul was completing his third evangelistic journey by ship, at every stop the Holy Spirit warned him of impending hardship and suffering when he would arrive at Jerusalem. But Paul made up his mind to go there because he also was compelled by the Spirit to do so: "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace” (Acts 20:22-24).

Recently, I was doing my daily walking of two miles and in front of me there was a walker with this statement on the back of their shirt: “Finish the race and complete the task” (Acts 20:24). This is a quotation from Paul’s speech to the elders of the church at Ephesus where he had labored for three years. Paul and other inspired writers were familiar with the Olympic Games and by metaphor applied the principles of the Olympics to the Christian race for the Victors Crown of Life. And so today many are motivated by these Biblical statements to “finish the race and complete the task” of some race for charity or a min-marathon. It works both ways. We are inspired by victorious athletes and athletes are motivated by the victorious servants of God who have won the crown of life.

One of the very best congregations mentioned in the New Testament is the church at Philippi located in Macedonia. This church is commended for the many good things they were doing and hardly any criticism is given. In keeping with the ancient games, Paul exhorts them to “run the race and complete the task” before them: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, NKJV). There are several principles here that apply to sports winners and Christian victors.

1. Paul did not consider that he had arrived at complete maturity in Christ. He was always laboring to be a faithful servant of Christ and to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Victorious athletes are always honing their skills and strengthening their mind and bodies to compete in the contest. Every Christian must do the same so we will not fail and fall from the grace of God.

2. In order to be victorious an athlete must concentrate on the fundamentals and not become sidetracked with minor issues. So too must we! Paul said, “But one thing I do.” It is better to have one overriding GOAL than to be aiming at too many things and become sidetracked from our objective. Our one goal is to win Christ and heaven.

3. A good memory is one of God’s great blessings vouchsafed to most people. But every person who expects to be victorious must also be able to forget some things. We must not focus on our mistakes and shortcomings. Also we cannot dwell on our past victories and achievements. We cannot live in the past. The great man Paul had some things in his past life that could have paralyzed him, but his aim was “forgetting those things which are behind…”

4. The victorious life in Christ is “forward looking!” We must reach “forward to those thing which are ahead.” As we come closer to the finish line of life we must “reach” for the “homestretch” and give it all we have for Christ.

5. In order to do this we must be focused on the GOAL. We will need to “PRESS” toward the goal. This indicates that there will be opposition from Satan. But whatever sacrifices we are called upon to make will be rewarded with the love, grace and mercy of Almighty God. Our “PRIZE is the upward call of God in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our objective is to be a finisher of our faith and not a dithering dropout and loser. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Copyright © 2010 Shelby Floyd. All Rights Reserved.