There is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun! The success of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also how well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they stumble, or are injured, or lack the stamina to finish, their good start is useless. Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race, but he had also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled with God’s powerful presence. The Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically; but as the pressures mount, they lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage. Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish.
