Finish Well!

At 7 pm on Oct 20, 1968, a few thousand spectators remained in the Mexico City Olympic Stadium. It was cool and dark. The last of the Olympic marathon runners, each finishing the race in exhaustion, was being carried off to first-aid stations. More than an hour earlier the winner, an Ethiopian runner, had crossed the finish line of the 26 mile event. As the remaining spectators prepared to leave, there was the sound of sirens and police whistles. All eyes turned toward the entrance of the stadium as a lone runner wearing the colors of his nation of Tanzania entered the stadium. His name was John Stephen Akhwari (Ak war eee). He was the last man to finish. His leg was bloodied and bandaged. He grimaced in pain with each step around the 400 meter track because of a severe injury in a fall he had taken earlier in the day. The spectators rose to their feet in thunderous applause urging Akhwari on to finish the race as if he was the winner. When we finished the race Akwari in great physical pain was asked by a report why did you finish the race? Why did you not give up after such a terrible injury? Listen to what Akhwari said. He said, “My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start this race. My country sent me 7,000 miles to finish the race.”

As Christian people, this is exactly what we are called to do in life’s race. Every thing we do from the moment we start this marathon by asking Jesus into our lives and every step we take with Him all along the race course is all about how we finish. So how will you finish life’s race? Will you hear the words, “Well done good and faithful servant?” Are you running in such a way as to get the prize of Heaven’s praise? Determine in your heart and mind today: "I will finish well!"