In 1968, Mexico hosted the Olympic Games. The marathon was the final event on the program, and the crowd packed Olympic Stadium in anticipation of the arrival of the runners. 74 athletes from 41 different countries had started the race. One of those men was John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania. Akhwari was not used to running at the altitude in which this race was won. At the nineteenth kilometer of the forty-two-kilometer race, cramps and sickness caused him to fall, wounding and dislocating his knee. Landing on the pavement also hurt his shoulder and head. Though officials urged him to withdraw, Akwari would not.

There was excitement to see which would be the man who would cross the finish line first. An Ethiopian runner entered the stadium, and the crowd erupted as he crossed the finish line. An hour after the winner had finished Akwhari entered the stadium. All but a few hundred of the spectators had gone home. Akwhari slowly crossed the finish line and collapsed. Afterward, asked by a reporter why he had not dropped out, Akwhari says, “My country did not send me to start the race. They sent me to finish.”

King Saul looked the part, had the people behind him, had the anointing of the prophet, and the Lord on his side – yet Saul did not finish. Kings Josiah and Asa began a reformation and restoration of the people, yet failed in the end. Moses was to lead the people to the promised land, yet did not get to enter himself because he once chose his way. These started but did not finish.

There are others who finished strong. Abraham’s faith appeared to grow progressively with every scene we see him. Jacob was one who started fighting family and the Lord but ultimately ended as a man of faith. After Saul of Tarsus found out the direction he should go in, the man we know better as Paul worked diligently for his Lord (II Tim. 4:7).

There have been many who have begun their walk with the Lord who did not understand it is a marathon, not a race. There will be bumps and bruises, obstacles and objections. Still, with the Lord, we can finish. Jesus died not so you could start the Christian race, but so you could finish. This congregation is here, not to help you start, but to finish. Akhwari crossed the finish line last, but he was not in last place. Twenty-eight runners did not even finish even though the hobbled Akhwari did. You are here, not to start, but to finish. Finish strong!

Corey Sawyers