Keep Your Eye on the Goal

Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus... —Hebrews 12:1-2

I love running. A few years ago I ran my first 5K race.  I never looked back, but always ahead.

On March 6, 1987, Eamon Coughlan, the Irish world record holder at 1,500 meters, was running in a qualifying heat at the World Indoor Track Championships.  With two and a half laps left, he was tripped and fell. He got back up and finally caught the lead runners. With only 20 yards left in the race, he was in third place, which would qualify him for the finals. He looked over his shoulder to the inside, and seeing no one, he let up. But another runner passed him on the outside a yard before the finish line, putting Coughlan in fourth place. His coming back from falling earlier was wasted because he took his eye off the finished line.

It is tempting to let up when things look OK. But, never take your eyes off the goal—The Lord Jesus Christ!  Paul said, “Reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-13).