It was Monday night, August 3, at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. At the track and field stadium, the gun sounded
for the 400-meter semifinals. About 100 meters into the race, Britain’s Derek Redmond crumpled to the track with a torn right hamstring.
Medical attendants rushed out to assist him, but as they approached Redmond, he waved them all aside, struggled to his feet, and crawled and hopped in a desperate effort to finish the race.
Four years earlier he had also qualified for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Ninety seconds before his heat he had to pull out
of the Olypics because of Achilles tendon problems. Following that injury, he had five surgeries. Yet somehow he had qualified again for this 1992 Olympics, and he’d just suffered a career-ending injury.
But he said to himself, “I’m not quitting. I’m going to finish this race.” He works his way, hopping, crawling at times down the
lane.
Up in the stands, a big guy wearing a T-shirt, tennis shoes, and a Nike cap that said “Just Do It” across the front barreled out of the stands, hurled aside a security guard, ran to Derek Redmond’s side, and embraced him. He was Jim Redmond, Derek’s father.
Jim was one of these sports dads who changes his whole life for the sake of his athlete child. He changed jobs. He moved to find the best training for his son.
Now, arm around his son’s waist, Derek’s arm around his dad’s thick shoulders and neck, they continue down the track.
Mom and sister were watching this race back home on television. His sister, who was pregnant, went into false labor. Mom is weeping. There, at the stadium, the crowd is standing, cheering. Derek and his daddy work their way around the track until, finally, arm in arm, they cross the finish line.
If that’s the way an earthly father responds to his son who is determined to finish the race no matter what the price, how much more does God, our heavenly Father, run to the side of his son or
daughter who says, “I’m finishing. I don’t care how much it hurts. I don’t care if I’m hanging on a cross. I’m finishing.”
Source: Craig Brian Larson, “Strong to the Finish,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 155.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Revelations 3:11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
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July 4th, 2011 at 2:12 am
oops, the facebook like box not working this week as well!