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It's all about finishing

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Built on a rock
By
Mike Altena, pastor, American Reformed Church, Luverne

Last Saturday night I was among the spectators of the Enduro Race at the Rock County Speedway. This was not my first experience at the racetrack. Our family has been filling the stands for many years, cheering on fathers, brothers, sons, cousins and friends.
For those of you who are not familiar with the local racing scene, the Enduro is not merely a race of speed. The winner of this competition is the first driver to complete the most laps within the two-hour limit or the first driver to complete 200 laps, whichever comes first.
Before the race begins, the track is generously watered down, increasing the challenges of maneuvering a race car on a small quarter-mile track with 51 other automobiles. If you are thinking that it would be close to impossible to line up 51 cars in a quarter mile, you would be correct. By the time the first cars approach the starting line, the cars at the back of the pack haven’t even made it to turn one and already cars are slipping and sliding and crashing and dying.
Hopefully by now you are getting the picture that this is a race of endurance; hence the name — Enduro.
Drivers endure a bumpy ride, mud flying in their faces and hot temperatures. Radiators overheat, brakes fail, engines stall and crashes happen. Having the fastest car, the best motor or the newest tires is no guarantee of a win or even a finish. But for the ones who can make it to the checkered flag, victory is sweet. First place is the ultimate reward, both for bragging rights and the cash prize, but just to finish the race and make it to the end is an accomplishment in itself.
The same is true in our walk of faith. Listen to these words from Hebrews 12. “1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (NLT)
The life of faith is not a few quick trips around the track. If you have made the decision to follow Christ, you are entered in an endurance race. Oftentimes we begin the race and profess our faith with a lot of energy and excitement, but with little conviction to stay in it for the long haul. When we hit a few bumps in the road or get spun around, we are ready to call it quits. I have listened to people share about experiences they had on mission trips, weekend retreats and group studies that they claimed were life-changing events, but those claims seem to fizzle as time goes by.
So what is the secret to enduring? The writer of Hebrews continues, “2. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith… 3. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
During the race the drivers must pay attention to many things going on around them, but they also keep their eye on the track official. He is the one holding the flag, giving them the green to go, the red to stop and holding out the checkered flag at the end. Let Jesus be race official. Keep your eyes on him. Keep on keeping on and don't let the flat tires and the fender benders along the way keep you in the pits and out of the race.

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