For many years growing up, I was part of the New York state games for the Physically Challenged, it was any and all children from five to nineteen, in the New York Tri State Area, that wanted to take part, could.  It was every track and field event you could think of.  They even had swimming meets held at Nassau Community College.  I remember watching these athletes and to my knowledge, no one ever gave up, no one ever quit, no one ever said I CAN’T DO THIS.  These are people with severe disabilities, some in wheelchairs, some on crutches, some who are deaf, some who have no arms, no legs, or both.  Their might even be some who can’t even talk.

If these young people don’t give up on goals to receive a prize, to receive a medal, than why do we give up, why do we give up on the dreams, plans, and purposes that God has for us.  Why do we give up, or as I heard my pastor once say do we only go to God or church, when the tough times come in.  The rest of the time we don’t bother going to God or church.  I remember the old saying “When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Get Going”.  Are we as Christians, going to toughen up, and go to God to meet the challenge, that we are facing, or we are just going to give up, and let the Devil win this round.  Most of you know my story, in every obstacle, circumstance, and difficulty I faced, I tried to go to God, and ask him to help me to face the challenge, and not let the Devil win.  If I had let him win, I wouldn’t be here today.  Lets not give up so easily, lets run the race that God has marked out for us, whether we have 2 arms and 2 legs, or no arms and no legs, we have a job or not, whether we are going through the worse time in our lives, Lets run to God.  Remember life is not a sprint, it’s a Marathon.  When times are tough, and things happen lets remember to keep going, and run for the finish line.

Hebrews 12:1-3 MSG Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it.  Strip down, start running and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in.  Study how he did it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed that exhilarating finish in and with God he could put up with anything.  He could put up with anything along the way:  Cross, Shame, whatever.  And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  That will shoot adrenaline into your souls.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, MSG You’ve all been to the stadium to and seen the athletes race.  Everyone runs; one wins.  Run to win.  All good athletes train hard.  They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades.  You’re after one thats gold eternally.   I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line.  I’m giving it everything I’ve got.  No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition.  I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else, all about it and then missing out myself.