Breasting the Tape

Monday 25 June
READ: 1 Corinthians 9: 24 – 27
MORE LESSON: Hebrews 12: 1 – 4

In a race, it is not the first person to start that is awarded the prize but the first to finish well. This means that no matter how well a man starts, it is only when he finishes well that he gets a reward. There is usually a tape at the end of the race to spot the first to cross the finish line, who is then declared a winner. No sport puts the tape at the beginning of the race because success is not as much of starting strong as it is of finishing strong.
The Christian journey is an earthly race to the heavenly tape. Like all races, it is not those who start the race well that gets the heavenly reward but those who finish well. As recorded in Matt. 24: 13, it is the one who runs the race to the end that gets saved. In a race, if a person takes off well and is leading the race, but just a moment before the finish line he suffers an injury or allows a distraction and falls down while others cross the line, he will not be reckoned to come first. An athlete who has been leading all along till just one step before the finish line will not be awarded the medal based on his previous performance. It is the one who crosses the line that is rewarded. Thus, all the labour from the beginning of the race can be lost at the verge of the finish line if you allow someone to suddenly overtake you. The first can become the last in a race and the last can become the first. It is not over until the tape is breasted and the finish line crossed.
There is a prize for running a race but the prize is not for everyone who runs. It is reserved for those that breast the tape. Jesus also ran a race when He lived on the earth. The tape for Him was the Cross. When He offered His life on the Cross and rose up again, He received the reward of a name that is above all names and He sat at the highest position in all universe. In the Christian journey, you are running for a prize, therefore, run till you finish well. Do not allow any distraction or stumbling block to knock you off before you breast the tape. The tape is breasted when Jesus comes or when a man is translated from the earth into eternity by death.
Be devoted to the Lord to the very end. The Bible says, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him: 1 Cor. 2: 9. However, these things are not for starters but for finishers. So, don't give up on the race until you breast the tape.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that in the race of life, you will start strong and finish strong.
* Prophesy that you will not be distracted, you will finish well.
* Declare that as the Lord lives, you will not quit, you will breast the tape.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Every creation shall hear and testify of “the manifestation of the sons of God” in my life this year, in the mighty name of Jesus.