Mamo Walde had already completed the 42-kilometer marathon in the oxygen-thin air of Mexico City. He had already received his gold medal, and was likely resting somewhere inside the stadium when a humming murmur turned into joyful cheers on that evening of October 20, 1968.
 
A man was walking into the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, his right leg heavily bandaged. He limped decidedly, the result of falling at the 19-kilometer point of the marathon. Some runners were jockeying for position and he was hit. He fell to the ground, badly dislocating his knee and damaged his shoulder. He received treatment and kept running despite the pain, and the cramps.
 
While 17 in the 54-man field did not complete this gruelling long-distance event, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania was determined to finish. A voice from within Akhwari urged him to go on. Afterwards it was written, “Today we have seen a young African runner who symbolizes the finest in the human spirit, a performance that gives true dignity to sport, a performance that lifts sport out of the category of grown men playing a game, a performance that gives meaning to the word courage. All honour to John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania.” When asked why he kept running, Akhwari gave one of the most memorable quotes in sporting history. He said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish it.”
 
Friends, John Akhwari courageously finished his race. He refused to allow a dislocated knee and injured shoulder to stop him from crossing the finish line. His performance, courage, and dedication in the face of adversity is what history will remember him for.
 
Two millenniums earlier, also determined to finish the most gruelling of all races, the apostle Paul said, “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
 
In this life, there is no honour for those who start well in anything (marriage, parenting, career, sports, or faith in God).  Honour is reserved for those who finish what they started! Of the 54 athletes who started in the Mexico City’s 1968 Olympic Marathon, only three were awarded the coveted prize of gold, silver, and bronze medals for finishing. Except for Akhwari, the other 50 starters received no recognition for their years of arduous training and sacrifice.
 
Friends, Jesus is ‘the’ finisher! He said to His disciples, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work” (Jn. 4:34). Jesus’ race was the most arduous and meaningful race of all races. His voluntary crucifixion is how Jesus finished the work His Father had given Him to do! It was on the cross that Jesus proclaimed, “It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30). 

The apostle Paul also was a finisher. His race was more demanding and challenging than all the other apostles put together. Nearing the end of his life, Paul said to his protégé, Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Tim 4:7).
 
Friends, I’m assuming you have started your race with the Lord… praise God! However, are you determined to finish your race? Will you allow anything to stop you from finishing? The apostle Peter says to you and me, “So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin” (1 Pet 4:1).
 
The Holy Spirit has not yet finished with you and me. Paul says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Phil. 1:6). The day of Jesus Christ’s return to earth is the finish line for you and me!
 
Revelation foretells that at the closure of this age, Jesus will declare, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life” (21:6).
 
It is encouraging and heart-warming to know that every person who finishes ‘the supreme race of life’ will be awarded spiritual gold! Yes, every person will be awarded eternal life with our Creator and joint heirs of His Kingdom! Now, that is what I call supreme, meritorious recognition, and reward!
 
Be honest; have you given up or are you continuing in your race of faith in Christ, striving toward the finish line? Remember what Paul said, “my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Friends, this is God-guaranteed… with the Holy Spirit’s help we can be finishers!
 
Bill
(Writing from Cairo, Fredrick Omoh-John is our newest Guest Author on dancing-on-water.com)