A few weeks ago I wrote to you about Morgan Uceny; 2012 Olympian representing the United States of America. It was in the last lap of the final round of competition in the women’s 1500 meter race that she was tripped and slammed to the ground, dashing her hopes of winning gold. Our hearts broke for Morgan as we watched her anguish and frustration overwhelm her emotions in deep disappointment. But her decision at that moment to walk off the track instead of finding resolve to cross the finish line was the real defeat. So the scoreboard displayed the times of all of the runners, except Uceny, who was cemented in Olympic history as “DNF” (Did Not Finish). And the tragic irony was that this same thing had happened a year earlier in World competition and she hadn’t learned the critical lesson that the medalists are not the only winners, but all those who finish their race.
The spiritual call to perseverance in Christ is throughout the Bible. And Jesus encouraged faithfulness even unto death, (Revelation 2:10) and is quoted in Scripture as stating “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13). It is when trials come that our metal is tested and we learn a bit about ourselves. But perseverance through tribulation produces beautiful results of the sort that quitters will never understand. (Romans 5:3&4)
I am so excited to have a different Olympic story brought to my attention. It dates to the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where a runner named Derek Redmond faltered from his winsome stride to succumb to a torn hamstring in his leg. As he bent to the ground, his competition passed him by, and in a flash, he was no longer contending for honors of the usual kind. As I watched the clips on You-tube, the pain appeared unbearable. But Derek was determined to finish his race. As he hobbled before the crowds, one man broke through security and onto the track to help him. It was his dad! Together, they tread the track, fighting torment and tears. Father and son, marched forward, refusing to let the quest be done. Tens of thousands stood to their feet and cheered thunderously as Derek crossed the finish line. He was etched in Olympic history, not for the Gold medal that he didn’t win, but for modeling for all of us what to do when the temptation to quit is luring. For the two Redmond’s, that day was not one of regret, but a day deserving of remembering and a story worth sharing. But how does one make such a decision in the heat of the moment? Is perseverance a heart trait that is developed during training, long before the critical defining moments occur?
Peter seems to explain for us a process of spiritual development that begins with faith, culminates in love, and is linked by virtue, spiritual knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness. (2 Peter 1:5-7) If, as the saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, then every part is important. And this might answer the question that some may be asking about what is missing in their lives. If you are divorcing yourself from your friends, ministry, church, spouse, or other commitments, without adequate cause, despite how easy it is to disguise one’s choices as spiritual, are you actually separating yourself from Christ in some way? And
how does one expect to deeply experience the authentic love of Christ while attempting to sidestep attributes such as self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness?
The Bible teaches that we all are tempted and struggle in the same basic areas. And throwing in the towel and abandoning one’s post is a veiled trap for everybody. It is essentially sin that is at the root, yet we are told emphatically what to do about it. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
Whenever sin is the cause of an action, His free offer of grace received by faith through actual confession and repentance are the only remedy that Christ offers. To deny one’s guilt is to postpone restoration. And many have found themselves acting as one who shines a light, yet inwardly they know there is something missing. And the answers are given to us here. Maybe it is no wonder that James describes good coming out of tribulation in our lives. (James 1) God can and does use difficulties to mold us, if we let Him. And testing circumstances also often reveal our need to grow, and keep us humble.
There are so many lessons here, and each could be its own book. So let me close with this. After viewing the Olympic video clips of two world class runners, who each had unexpected calamity crush their dreams to place in front, one walking off the track in despair, the other enduring the anguish to the finish line, I learn a lesson from both; one to abstain, and the other to emulate. And the role that the dad played in this success is not to be overlooked, for it reminds me of my Heavenly Father, there to see me through to the end of the race that He has set before me.
