Luka Pibernik was in a bicycle race, the Giro d’Italia on May 10th. Pibernik lost count of how many laps he had done. He thought he had won stage five. He raised his hands in victory and slowed down. He thought he had won. He thought he had finished the race, at least come close enough, being in first, to win the race.
But then cyclists started racing past him and Pibernik realized he was only on the next-to-the-last lap of the race. In his overly confident exuberance, Pibernik fell too far behind. When he finally crossed the finish line, he was number 148.
Many believers quit the Christian race just after they start believing. They think (as too many are taught) that faith is all that is required. Once they come to “faith,” then they think they’ve done all they need to do.
Other believers quit the Christian race just after they are baptized. They think that baptism is the end-all and be-all of Christianity. I see this far too often even in the church with parents who think that once a child (even an adult) is baptized, then everything will be all right. They fail to grasp that baptism is the culmination of a decision to put Christ first in their lives. They might be baptized but then quit the Christian race because they actually love other things more than Christ.
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Still other Christians quit the Christian race after they have started but life gets in the way and they think they’ve done “enough.” Faith (check!). Baptism (check!). Taught Bible class enough (check!). Attended enough potluck meals (check!).
Yet Christianity is more comprehensive than just checking off boxes. It is a walk. It is a way of life. A daily walk and, at least, weekly worship with fellow saints. The Hebrew writer warns that neglecting that weekly assembly weakens once fortitude in his fight against Satan (10:25). Paul says that he fought often against the flesh so that he might stay faithful to Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 9:26-27).
The Christian race is not won until the finish line is crossed, until one passes over the threshold of death, still faithful to Jesus Christ. Only then can one say, “I have finished my race” (2 Tim. 4:7).
–Paul Holland
