YOU MUST NOT QUIT THIS RACE!

"Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus , who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there , in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" - Hebrews 12:1-3 (Message)

During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, the last runner to finish the marathon was John Stephen Akhwari an athlete from Tanzania. He had a difficult race like many other althlete. He stumbled at one point, ended up with many bruises, and a broken leg! But he didn't quit. 17 out of the 74 altheles who started the race stopped on the way. But John didn't quit the race. Even though everyone else had already finished the race and gone home, but John kept at it. Finally, at 7 pm, He hobbled into the near-empty stadium. There were still about 7,000 people on hand to witness his finish, and all 7,000 stood, giving this battered athlete a standing ovation as he finished his last lap. When this dedicated marathoner was asked, "Why didn't you quit?" he simply said, "My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me here to finish."

"Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work" - John 4:34 (Amplified)

Like John Akhwari, we need to understand that God did not send us here only to participate in the race but to run it faithfully till we reach the finished line. In Hebrews 12:1, the bible says a great cloud of witnesses are eagerly waiting for us at the finished line to welcome us with standing ovation if only we don't quit . Yes, the race may not be as pleasant or easy as we might have though. We may have sustained many emotional, financial or marital bruises while running the race. Trusted friends, church members or even Pastors or General Oversears may have betrayed us on the way. Although, these excuses sound pretty good but the question is - are they tenable to the one who sent us to represent him at the Olympic of Life. The answer is a capital "No" . Non of those excuses can make the one who sent us to here to be happy if we quit the race like the 17 altheles at the 1968 Olympics before we reach the finshed line.

 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man,.........."-  Romans  2:1

Beloved,  I hope you have not stopped running the race to the Stadium of Eternity in Heaven! I hope you are have not quit, retired or resigned! I  hope you have not thrown in the towel. I hope you have not backslide. If you have, then God is calling you today to please amend your ways and be steadfast in your walk with Him. Live everyday to please the one who sent you here. Although, things may get tough along the journey and everything  around you may be screaming "Quit! Quit! Quit! ", but please remember that our God is not only a good starter but a perfect finisher (John 4:34, Revelation 22:13).  And there is no doubt that God wants to see you and I to finish strong and well.

My prayer this week for you and my humble self is that God will pour fresh fire into our soul to propel us to run until we arrived in the main bowl of the Stadium of Eternity to receive the applaud and warm embrace of the saints who had gone ahead of us. May you and I not miss the standing ovation of the cloud of witnesses that are eagerly waiting for us at the finished line in Jesus name.  Amen.

Good day and do have a blessed weekend, full of pleasant surprises.

Maranatha!

Okanlawon Taiwo