In today’s world, many are trying to cross the finishing line. People follow hundreds of different paths in order to find meaning in their lives. People are more lost than ever in the 21st century. Mankind has created a meaningless culture in its paintings, music, sports and sculpture… much modern art is based on unrecognizable images, abstract forms and deafening sounds.
The men and women of today don’t find meaning in their lives. They can’t fill the hole that exists in their hearts and no amount of art, music, science literature, or other form of communication can fill it. Despite all the advances and new opportunities that we have these days, the percentage of violence, depression, frustration, addictions, rape, killing and even suicide, rises from day to day.
Men and women of today find themselves in a situation in which no one listens to them, no one loves them, no one comforts them… no one understands them. Humanity is embarked upon a desperate search for intellectual meaning, love, beauty, understanding and freedom; and that search will never come to an end because God is the only one who can fill that emptiness – and most people do not want to look to Him for the solution of the problem.
Charles Olmen, from Haiti, participated in the 10,000 meter race in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. He was not just the last to finish but arrived 1 hour and 14 minutes after the penultimate runner. Everyone had just about gone home while he was still running.
In the race he was leading the run but suddenly a nerve in his leg got sprained and he fell down. Though he tried to continue running, he couldn’t. The other runners ran past him. Now he had no hope of winning the race, but he was determined to finish the race and his challenge was, “I am here to finish the race, and I must complete it.” With that decision he continued to walk till the stadium.
But back at the stadium the race was over and the medals were already awarded to the champions. When people were about to leave the stadium, he walked in. It shocked the crowd; he went straight and crossed the finishing line. The media asked him why he didn’t give up the race. He responded, “Why should I give up, I am not here to give up the race, but to finish the race.” We’re here on earth not to stop or give up the race of life, but to complete it through Christ, in Christ and with Christ.
There is no single case in history of someone who finds they have been deceived by trusting in God. When we place Him as our finishing line, we find love, beauty, freedom, so that our existence makes sense.
Where are you going? What efforts are you making to reach your finishing line? Have you stopped to think that maybe you’re searching in the wrong direction, even if you are following a religion? There will be so many surprises after death! There will be nothing more terrible than hearing these words from God Himself: “I never knew you!”
It’s important to win if you never make it to the finish line!
[2 Tim 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”]
Dr. Thamsing D. Lamkang
Sports Ambassadors – India
