Once, a king had a great highway built for the members of his kingdom. After it was completed, but before it was open to the public, the king decided to have a contest. He invited as many as desired to participate. Their challenge was to see who could travel the highway the best.
On the day of the contest, the people came. Some of them had fine chariots, some had fine clothing, fine hairdos, or great food. A few young men came in their track clothes and ran along the highway. People traveled the highway all day, but each one, when he arrived at the end, complained to the king that there was a large pile of rocks and debris left on the road at one spot that got in their way and hindered their travel.
At the end of the day, a lone traveler crossed the finish line warily, dead last. Tired and dirty, he walked over to the king and addressed him with great respect. He handed the king a bag of gold and explained, “I stopped along the way to clear a pile of rocks and debris that was blocking the road. This bag of gold was under it all. I want you to return it to its rightful owner.”
The king replied, “You are the rightful owner.”
The traveler replied, “Oh no, this is not mine. I’ve never known such money.”
“Oh yes,” said the king. “You’ve earned this gold, for you won my contest. He who travels the road best is he who makes the road smoother for those who will follow.”
This story reminds me of the song “Find Us Faithful,” written by Jon Mohr and made popular by Steve Green.
We’re pilgrims on the journey
of the narrow road,
and those who’ve gone before us
line the way.
Cheering on the faithful,
encouraging the weary,
their lives a stirring testament
to God’s sustaining grace.
Surrounded by so great
a cloud of witnesses,
let us run the race not only for the prize.
But as those who’ve gone before us,
let us leave to those behind us
the heritage of faithfulness
passed on through godly lives.
After all our hopes and dreams
have come and gone,
and our children sift through
all we’ve left behind,
may the clues that they discover
and the memories they uncover
become the light that leads them
to the road we each must find.
Oh, may all who come behind us
find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion
light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
lead them to believe.
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us
find us faithful.
How are you running the race? What are you leaving behind? Is it all about you? Or is it about how you can live your life for Jesus and make an impact on others?
We’re all in the race of life together, but the Good News, as the apostle Paul tells us, is that everyone can win the race and claim the prize. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV).
Courage for the Journey,
Pastor Phil