Finish Well

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 

—2 Timothy 4:7-8

The Olympics. Men and women all over the world are glued to their television sets to see the best and brightest athletes compete on the global stage. Dreams and talent combined with discipline and determination, led to years of blood, sweat, and sacrificial living, now culminate into a few minutes of strenuous frenzy as the athlete’s finely tuned skills are placed on display for all to see. No wonder those who win step to the platform with measured steps and deep emotion. It all leads to this moment, when the victor is crowned for all to see and know that this individual on this day was the best in the world.

The Olympics are a reminder of our faith in Christ. The moment that we trusted in Christ we were placed into God’s training program, disciplining ourselves for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7), in order that we might run effectively. We run to win. Or as Paul said,

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”—1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

As spiritual athletes, we are to be in training, making every effort to avoid anything that could deter us from the upward call in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:14), forsaking sin, knowing that we will step to the podium of eternity when Christ, the righteous Judge, will give us “the crown of righteousness.” We run the race because of Him, for Him, in His power, and for His glory, waiting for the day when we will fall into His arms and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

The question for each one of us is: how is our training? Are we running in such a way that we might win? Or are we running our lives in such a way that we merely do not lose? There is a vast difference between playing to win and playing not to lose. Running to win means that we won’t let anything get in our way. Running like this is the cry of the apostle Paul,

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord”—Romans 8:38-39.

Running to win means that there is nothing that can stop us. Running not to lose means that we want just enough faith to keep us comfortable, safely away from persecution and just enough to keep us from hell. The Christian faith is not merely an avoidance of hell and punishment; it is embracing and running toward Christ. It is a life of transformation, demonstrating an excitement that we cannot keep in, a love that cannot be quenched, and a fire that cannot be extinguished. Running to win means running no matter what the cost. We run with Christ in order to win, knowing that He has already won. And we are able to win because of Him (1 John 4:4).

My brother or sister, don’t quit the race! Make sure that you finish well. Run in such a way as to win, knowing that God will reward all of your labor, all of your effort, all of your prayers, all of your witnessing, all of your discipline. He will bless you for every sin that you avoided, every worldly amusement forsaken, and every gift given for His name. Everything that you did in secret, God will reward publicly, acknowledging that we have trusted in Him and have victory because of what He has already done. May our joy in Christ and our faith increase so that His name might radiate to this lost and dying world through us. Amen.