It was a world athletics championship and the event was a middle distance race. Just about a lap to go, one of the athletes pulled a muscle and went down.
'Aaaaah', the spectators moaned in sympathy for him, but nothing anyone of them could do for him. The other athletes went past him to finish the race.
Suddenly, out of the crowd in the stands, ran out a man onto the track field towards the fallen runner.
He pulled the runner up, put his hand round his own neck and with this support, the runner limped on towards the finishing line.
Both men moved on slowly.
The race had long ended but the whole stadium was now on their feet applauding to this memorable gesture till both men got to the finishing line.
Then and then, the commentator announced that the man that ran onto the field was the athlete's father.
Wow! How i would have loved to adorn my living room with the photograph of the father helping the injured son to limp on on that race track.
Yes, it was a moment beautiful to behold, but more than that, it was a moment pointing to the love of God our heavenly Father for us.
As that man was with the son to the end of the race, so also Jesus says
. . . lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.
Matthew 28:20.
KING JAMES BIBLE VERSION
You are not alone dear reader in the challenge and pain you are currently going through.
God will help you to the finishing line.
Oh, how many times you and I have fallen in our christian race and God lifted us up.
Psalm. 37:24 says
.. .Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand."
KING JAMES BIBLE VERSION
How many times we felt too weak, weighed down and discouraged to continue, but God encouraged us not to give up, reminding us 'we are not an abandoned project'.
Deuteronomy 31:6 says
...Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
KING JAMES BIBLE VERSION
Or, how many times have we strayed off,
. .But yet in love He sought us, and on His shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought us
(Stanza 3 of the hymn The King of love my Shepherd is,
Written by Sir. W. Baker).
Mt. 18:12 says
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Verse 13 says
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
KING JAMES BIBLE VERSION
Dearly beloved, it's a cinch our heavenly Father wants to preserve us in the race to the finishing line. Hang on to Him. He's our unfailing Help.
Prayer : O Lord my God, hold me by your hand and help me to the finishing line, like You did for Paul, in Jesus name, amen. 🙏🏽.
Thank you for reading.
God bless you and yours