Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:12-14)

During the Tokyo 2020 Olympics women’s 200 metre semi-final race, Shericka Jackson, who won a bronze medal in the 100 metre race, suffered a shock exit.   

Jackson was second to the finish line.  Thinking she could get into the finals, she eased up too much and was overtaken by two other runners.  Because she slowed down, she finished fourth and was out of the race.  She was only four-thousandths of a second behind the third runner in front of her.

Her blunder costs her a place in the finals.

This mistake can happen to us.

We think we have made it.  We can afford to rest on the laurels.

Not the apostle Paul.

He made it his passion to pursue Christ.

Even if he was going to be put to death, he wanted to know Him, experience His power, and identify with Christ in His suffering (Phil 3:10-11).

He lived out his love for Christ till his last breath.

Thus, he was able to say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7).

As we run this life race, don’t let up.  Don’t slow down in your pursuit of Christ and Christlikeness. 

God is not done with us yet.  He is still molding us to be the person He wants us to be.

So remain faithful.  Be enthusiastic about your walk with the Lord.  Be consistent in your Christian life. 

Till your last breath.  Finish the race victorious.

It is how you finish the race that matters.

(MT)