Purify Your Mind Series (Part 1) by Joe KirbySample

Never Give Up

In 1968, John Stephen Akhwari was running for his country, Tanzania, in the Olympics hosted by Mexico City. During the 42-km race, he cramped up and collided with other racers. On his fall, he dislocated his shoulder and wounded his knee dreadfully. As Akhwari scrambled to get up, he was covered in a mixture of blood, dirt, and sweat. It was obvious that John Stephen Akhwari needed medical attention; surely he would pull out of the race.

But John shocked the world when he started running again—well, actually, he didn’t run; he slowly limped, all the way to the finish line. His time: 3:25:27, an hour later than the winner, Mamo Wolde. His spectators: a small crowd—practically everyone had left the stadium. His finishing place: last out of all the fifty-seven competitors who completed the race. When it was all over, a stray interviewer asked John Stephen Akhwari, “Why didn’t you quit?” His response was, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”

Christian, God did not save you to start the race. He saved you so that you might finish the race. I know you may feel like giving up; it’s so hard battling for purity. It can feel too hard to follow Jesus—and you’re right! Being a Christian is tough, but when you finally cross the finish line and can say like the apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7–8), it will all be worth it. So, dear Christian, whatever you do, don’t give up today!