The Finish Line

 

The Finish Line

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 29:28-30 ESV®)

   If you did not follow track, especially for Mount Tabor High School near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the name Kayla Montgomery would not be familiar. During her high school Cross Country competition (2014-2017) she broke records and won many awards. But there was a handicap she had to overcome. She had multiple sclerosis. She could get her muscles running, and running fast. The real problem was once her muscles got firing at full speed she could not stop them. In her early training, at the finish of a race she would collide with objects and sometimes this would result in injury.

   What gave her the confidence to continue competition? Coach Cromwell, her high school track coach, promised her he would be at the finish to catch her. All through high school, her coach was at the finish line waiting with open arms to catch and stop Kayla. The coach suffered many bruises during this stopping/catching process. He never failed Kayla during her high school track career. Whether she would win the next track meet was never sure but, Coach Cromwell being at the finish line was sure.

   I have a better promise. Jesus has promised to be at the finish line of my life with open arms to catch me. I will be coming in hard since, similar to Kayla’s not being able to stop running, I can’t stop sinning. When I get to the finish line Jesus will be there and he has taken all the bruises of my sins. He did much more than any coach, He died and rose to catch me at the finish line, He did it all. My only hope at the finish line is in Jesus being there.

     The same promise from Jesus is given for you. The one sure thing in this race (life), is at the finish line Jesus is waiting with open arms to catch all those who He has called.

                                   Still in the race but looking toward the finish line

Wess Mechler – Jesus is Alive!

 

ESV® - The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Idea based on chapter 9 from “You Are Never Alone” © 2020 Max Lucado published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson