Winning the Race . . .

I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but the Summer Olympics are underway! Tonight we were watching Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Michael Phelps, swim to another win and world record.
The television camera focused in on Phelp's mother in the stands. She was on her feet, hands pressed around her mouth, yelling, "Go! Go! GO!" Her voice was filled with the emotion that only a mother can cry, and tears were streaming down her face.
As I stood, thousands of miles away, I soon felt a stream of tears finding their way down my face. It then hit me! This is what the saints in heaven are doing, RIGHT NOW!! They are standing in the grand stands that look over the sea of time, and they're cheering us on. They're shouting, "YES! YOU CAN MAKE IT! DON'T GIVE UP! THE PRIZE IS WORTH IT!"
The wonderful thing about the race we as Christians are in is you don't have to be first to win! The prize goes to the one who fights the good fight, endures to the end, and has clean hands and a pure heart! There won't be any 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prizes there.
When you feel like giving up and think that it's just not worth the hassle, visualize the grand stands of heaven, filled with those who have already finished the race of life. You can make it!!!

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