“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.” Hebrews 12:1
When I was in Junior High School, my best friend and I decided to participate in the annual Walk-A-Thon. We both got friends and family members to sponsor us for the ten mile walk. We were very excited and were convinced we would be the first two to finish.
We had developed a no-fail plan on how we could be successful at finishing and winning this race. We would first start out by jogging, then, we’d walk for a ways, and when necessary, we’d run if we needed to get ahead of someone. Then, finally, because we would be so far ahead of everyone else, we would leisurely walk over the finish line.
We started out following our plan. We jogged, then walked, and then ran a little. We held our heads up proudly as we passed the “slow pokes.” We started panting about the second mile. Around the fifth mile, we could barely feel our feet. Then, finally, about the seventh mile, we collapsed in the grass on the side of the road and a police car came by and picked us up.
When we arrived back at the school, we realized the only “first place” finish we had accomplished was to be the first to arrive in a police car! Even though our egos and feet were hurting, we were still filled with a sense of pride that we had walked seven out of the ten miles.
Paul teaches us in First Corinthians 9:24 that in a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize. We may not finish the way we expected, but if we’ll keep on the course and try our best, with God’s help, we will finish the race He has set before us.
A new school year is about to begin and, if you are a teacher, you have prepared the course your students need to follow. When the time comes and one of them feels they can go no further, may you be the police car that comes by and carries them the rest of the way to the finish line.
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