Our students’ marathon in Yei was not without drama. A runner
who had come in 7th, was eventually disqualified. The lesson of which I pray
stays with me till the end of time.
This boy lost his registration slip at the starting
line!! He fell down as the race began but desperate to catch up with the rest,
he didn’t wait to find his registration slip and continued with the race.
The rule was that all runners must return to the
finish line with their registration slip that had their details, our ministry
logo and the paint marks of all four stages along the marathon path– Black,
Red, White and Green; as proof that they ran past those stages.
As we received the winners and registered them, each
provided their slip. But this boy comes and shows me the paint marks on his fingers and began to explain:
“I ran past all the stages, see the paint marks
on my fingers, I used my fingers to touch the paint at all the stages…”
I asked, “Where’s your slip?”
He went on and on, explaining his predicament and
pleading. Sadly, he’d broken one of the cardinal rules of this marathon.
I was devastated. Right before me was a scenario that
must not play out in heaven for any disciple of Christ. He was in tears but the
rule had to apply.
I’ve continued to ask myself since then, “Should
I have let him have his place? “After all this is a sport we organized to
win students to Jesus and he proved he ran the distance, going
through the four stages, though without his slip.”
Was it fair to have disqualified him? What do you
think?
We didn’t plan for
disqualifications or even think there will be any. This was too simple a race for
anyone to go wrong; so we thought. But isn’t that why laws are made? They
aren’t made just to catch offenders but more importantly, to show and maintain a standard.
This marathon awakened me again to a harsh
reality– making it to the finish line
doesn’t guarantee the prize yet. Apostle Paul said he wanted to finish his race with joy. (Acts 20:24)
Jesus taught this lesson when
He said, “When the Judgment Day comes,
MANY will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many
demons and performed MANY miracles!” (obviously new testament believers)
Then I will say to them, ‘I NEVER knew you. Get away from
me, you WICKED PEOPLE!’ (Matt 7:22-23
GNB my emphasis) Wicked…? How? Why?
Apostle Paul knew something of this
fact, so he said, “… I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
(1Cor 9:27 NIV)
You may not be stirred like I am,
since you didn’t witness the agony of this boy. But I hope your imagination is
good. It may be time for a pit stop.
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 