Are You Ready to Endure to the End?

One of the most unforgettable and inspiring moments in Olympic history unfolded during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the men’s 400-meter semifinal. Sprinter Derek Redmond was the British world record holder and a medal favorite.

Derek burst from the blocks with a strong start, only to collapse in pain mid-race with a hamstring tear. My heart sunk in empathy when the announcer exclaimed, “Redmond is out!” His Olympic dream, it seemed, was shattered.

But then something extraordinary happened! Despite his agony, Derek struggled to his feet and began hobbling toward the finish line, refusing to quit! The crowd of 65,000 stood in awe, their applause swelling, as they witnessed his courage and perseverance. As Derek struggled, one man did more than stand. His father, Jim Redmond, jumped over the railing, dodged security and hurried to his son’s aid. Wrapping his arm around Derek, and his son leaning on his shoulder because of the worsening pain, together they finished the race.

You’re probably way ahead of me: That image of father and son speaks volumes about our spiritual journey to the Kingdom of God. We, too, are running a race and God our Father and Jesus Christ our Brother are always ready to help us endure to the end! 

Running for a spiritual crown 

The apostle Paul, familiar with the Isthmian Games every two years in Corinth, wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 that our race of faith to eternal salvation leads to an “imperishable crown” far greater than any Olympic medal.

Paul urges us to “run in such a way that you may obtain it . . . temperate in all things.” His strategy: “I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” Paul rejected the popular, false idea of “once saved, always saved.” Instead, Paul urges us to run with purpose and self-control so we can cross the spiritual finish line.

The Bible is an endurance manual.

Jesus Christ states in Matthew 24:13 what is needed for salvation: “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” And the book of Hebrews—likely authored by Paul—is saturated with encouragement to persevere as we run our race of faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2 beautifully echoes the Redmonds’ story: “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, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

A Great Cloud of Witnesses

We are actually accountable to far more than 65,000 spectators. This follows mention of the many heroes honored in Hebrews 11’s “Hall of Faith.” We study the Bible daily to learn from their examples of faith and endurance. James 5:11 speaks of the “perseverance of Job,” providing us with one more example of someone commended for this trait.

Each of us has many witnesses: our Church family, God the Father, Jesus and the angels (Hebrews 12).

Lay aside every weight.

Derek had endured five surgeries, including one on his Achilles tendon with less than four months before the Barcelona Olympics. His Olympic dreams had been dashed four years earlier at the 1988 Games in Seoul when he tore his Achilles an hour before the race.

Despite our past and present difficulties, we must shed the burdens that entangle and enslave us. Paul exhorts us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Even if the path isn’t one we would have chosen. Praise God we don’t have to run and struggle alone! We must not if we really want to succeed.

Look unto God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Like Derek being rescued by his father, we must look “unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Paul also wrote in Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Jim’s rescue of his son Derek didn’t go exactly as it appeared. Twenty years later, Jim recalled, “I actually went on the track to try to stop him inflicting further damage to himself . . . He asked me to get him back in that lane and I offered him a shoulder to lean on.” Derek confirmed that at first, his father tried to talk him out of continuing through his agony. “He was telling me that I had nothing to prove and that I didn't need to do this, but I told him I was going to finish. Then he said that we would do it together.”

We can count on God to always give us exactly what we need. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

And the Father and Jesus don’t have to make a run for us—They live inside us through the Holy Spirit, so that we need not “become weary and discouraged. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin” (Hebrews 12:3-4).

Verses 5-11 admonish us to “endure chastening” from God who “deals with you as with sons.” To really endure, we should take David’s advice: “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness” (Psalm 141:5). A wise person will humbly learn from everybody encountered and every situation.

Don't drift away!

“Give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard [not dull of hearing (5:11)], lest we drift away . . . how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:1-3).

When I was about eight years old, I was floating on an innertube not far from our camp’s shore. The wind blew and the waves began pushing me out rapidly. I knew how to swim but was paralyzed to jump off because I had a fear of deep water. But suddenly my dad pulled up beside me in our motorboat and rescued me, just like Derek’s father!

Spiritually, our drifting often takes place over a long backsliding period of neglecting the five tools in our Christian toolbox: prayer, Bible study, meditation, fasting and fellowship. Let 4:14-16 stir you up about praying, 4:11-13 about Bible study, and 10:23-25 about fellowshipping.

We shouldn’t think of endurance as something to worry about when the big trial in the big race occurs. Think of endurance in every action of your daily life now, no matter how trivial. If you endure the little challenges, you’ll have a track record assuring readiness to conquer the big one.

I think of this every time I work out on a cross trainer machine at the gym. I usually want to quit soon after I’ve started pedaling. But I motivate myself to push on until the mile is finished, knowing that if I ever quit once, I’ll quit every time. I found the best way to prevent this temptation is to start with specific goal distance to complete in a certain amount of time. Gradually, I speed up, so I can finish strong!

Another Olympic Lesson

In the 1968 Mexico City marathon, John Stephen Akhwari, a farmer from Tanzania, suffered cramps and an injury. Yet by willpower he hobbled all the way to the finish line over an hour later than the others.

Why? His answer has motivated many since: “I never thought of stopping. My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race!”

We should be always grateful that God the Father has called us to be in His family and Kingdom! What a terrible loss and tragedy if we don’t finish.

Never give up!

Sometimes all it takes for success is the decision and commitment to keep going! Have you made up your mind that you will endure to the end?

Even though he was still alive in the flesh, Paul wrote: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). By God’s grace, that can be us!

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you. Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36, New Living Translation).