Bill Broadhurst entered a 10K race in Omaha, Nebraska. When he was younger, he suffered an aneurysm in the right side of his brain. It resulted in a partial paralysis on the left side of his body. Nonetheless, he was determined not only to enter but to finish the race because his hero, Bill Rogers (a world-class marathoner), would be in that race. Rogers won the race, finishing in twenty-nine minutes. It took Broadhurst two and half hours. He was teased by children, became numb, experienced great pain, had to avoid cars (after they opened the race course up to traffic when they thought everyone had finished), and fought the desire to quit most of the way.
As the sun began to sink in the western Nebraska sky, Broadhurst could barely see the finish line. Approaching the end of the race, consuming the last fumes in his tank, Broadhurst saw Rogers suddenly step out of a darkened alley and welcome him, the partially paralyzed runner, as he stumbled across the line.
Rogers embraced him. Then he took the gold medal from around his own neck and placed it over Broadhurst's head, saying, "Broadhurst, you're the winner. Take the gold." (Knute Larson, The Great Human Race (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1987)
The Christian life is like the race that Bill Broadhurst ran that day...a constant struggle of the will, obstacles to overcome, the jeer of the world ringing in our ears and sometimes, even personal suffering to endure. One may wonder, was the "weight of failure" or the "thought of finishing" the driving force behind Broadhurst's push to the finish? Did he not want to be perceived as a failure, or did he just want the satisfaction of doing something great in his life be his reason for "staying after" it? I think perhaps a little of both. If we are going to finish the race of the Christian life (key word being "finished") then we must have similar thoughts. Look at what the Scriptures tell us in
Hebrews 12:1 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,
Hebrews 12:2 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.
One thing that we have that Broadhurst didn't have that day, was the fact that we KNOW there is One waiting for us at our finishing line. Jesus Christ not only runs along with us in our race of life, cheering and encouraging and refreshing, He also will meet us with an unparalleled welcome! Bill Broadhurst wanted to quit many times during the race, like we often do. According to our verse, we must lay aside the weight, the sin, which drags us down...but that is not enough. One can't finish the race just because he removes obstacles and strongholds out of their lives. They must keep running (...let us run with patience…), HOWEVER, we must know the Direction in which we're running. One can run, but if they don't know where the finish line is, it doesn't matter how fast, how far or how long they can run, they'll never reach the finish line.
O Christian, may I challenge you today. Know the Finish Line to which you're running! His name is Jesus, He is the author and finisher of our faith! He'll place upon our head, not a gold medal of accomplishment, but a crown of righteousness!
2Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Have a great week remembering you are a child of the King.
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