FINISH STRONG
By: Elle Buell
You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG
Secretariat was an amazing thoroughbred racehorse. His win at the 1973 Belmont Stakes race made him the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. He was bred for greatness, having parents that were of impeccable racehorse lineage. When Secretariat’s owner first saw him standing as a foal, she wrote one word in her journal, “Wow.”
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul is challenging the church to consider the Christian walk like a race—everyone runs; one wins. He is reminding us that we must go after God as an athlete goes after a gold medal. We should train hard in our study of God’s Word, carrying out His commission through our lives, remembering that our reward is in heaven.
I’m taking it one step further: to remind us of our heritage. We were created for greatness by our King. I imagine that when we were born, God said to himself, “Wow.” We weren’t designed just to run the race; we were created to "give it everything we’ve got.”
The YouTube link below shows the original footage of Secretariat winning by 31-lengths at Belmont Stakes in 1973. Watching this footage reminds me of the power God has put inside us. When we decide to RUN TO WIN and determine to give it all we've got in our pursuit of God, He will show up and do things we couldn’t even imagine. “I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line, giving it everything I’ve got.”
You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG
Secretariat was an amazing thoroughbred racehorse. His win at the 1973 Belmont Stakes race made him the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years. He was bred for greatness, having parents that were of impeccable racehorse lineage. When Secretariat’s owner first saw him standing as a foal, she wrote one word in her journal, “Wow.”
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul is challenging the church to consider the Christian walk like a race—everyone runs; one wins. He is reminding us that we must go after God as an athlete goes after a gold medal. We should train hard in our study of God’s Word, carrying out His commission through our lives, remembering that our reward is in heaven.
I’m taking it one step further: to remind us of our heritage. We were created for greatness by our King. I imagine that when we were born, God said to himself, “Wow.” We weren’t designed just to run the race; we were created to "give it everything we’ve got.”
The YouTube link below shows the original footage of Secretariat winning by 31-lengths at Belmont Stakes in 1973. Watching this footage reminds me of the power God has put inside us. When we decide to RUN TO WIN and determine to give it all we've got in our pursuit of God, He will show up and do things we couldn’t even imagine. “I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line, giving it everything I’ve got.”