Team Rally | 4-18-2021

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 785: Waiting at the Finish Line

WAITING AT THE FINISH LINE

Topics: Arrogance; Endurance; Perseverance; Pride

References: Hebrews 10:36; 12:1–2; James 1:3–4

I was at the Pennsylvania Relays, a famous Eastern track meet, and our relay team was running in the championship race. I was the leadoff man and in the second lane. The man in the first lane held the 100-meter dash record for prep school runners at that time. He also held a record for arrogance, because when I got to the line and put my starting blocks down, he said, “May the best man win. I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line.”

We went into the blocks. The gun sounded. He took off, and seven of us settled in behind him. We went around the first turn and down the back stretch. About 180 meters into the race, I suddenly saw the record holder in front of me, holding his side, bent over and groaning as he jogged along. We passed him like he was standing still, and because I’m such a gentleman, I waited for him at the finish line.

At the end of the race, my coach took me aside and said, “I hope you’ve learned a lesson today. It makes little difference whether you hold the record for the 100-meter dash if the race is 400 meters long.”

—Gordon MacDonald, Promise Keepers “Go the Distance” conference (August 11, 2000)

JESUS IS AT THE FINISH LINE — ARE WE PREPARED FOR THE RACE??

Philippians 3:14 NLT

14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

I DON’T WANT GOD TO HAVE SOMETHING HUGE PREPARED FOR US TO DO… A 400m RACE — BUT WE ARE ONLY GIVING A 100m EFFORT — OR ONLY PREPARED FOR 100m

PERSONALLY PREPARED

How is your personal relationship? — When you do ministry without God… it’s a set up for emptiness and a hollow church

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 995: Refueling in Rest

REFUELING IN REST

Topics: Energy; Preparation; Rest; Sabbath; Success; Work

Reference: Psalm 127:1–2

Two men had to clear a field of trees. The contract called for them to be paid per tree.

Bill wanted the day to be profitable, so he grunted and sweated, swinging his ax relentlessly. Ed, on the other hand, seemed to be working about half as fast. He even took a rest and sat off to the side for a few minutes. Bill kept chopping away until every muscle and tendon in his body was screaming.

At the end of the day, Bill was terribly sore, but Ed was smiling and telling jokes. What’s more, Ed had cut down more trees. Bill said, “I noticed you sitting while I worked without a break. How did you outwork me?”

“Did you notice I was sharpening my ax while I was sitting?” Ed said, smiling.

—Robert M. Dubrul, Stand Firm (Morris, 2000)

BE IN GOD’S WORD — MAKE YOUR PRAYER LIFE A PRIORITY — IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS… ASK!

EXPECT GOD TO USE US

SAUL WAS KING — APPOINTED BY GOD — BUT DIDN’T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY — No room for APATHETIC PEOPLE — THIS IS REAL LIFE

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO FOLLOW OR BELIEVE IN A GOD THAT WE DON’T TAKE SERIOUS?

SERIOUS IN YOUR PRAYERS FOR THE CHURCH — SERIOUS IN YOUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT THE CHURCH —

WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

WE WILL BE A GENEROUS CHURCH

WE WILL HAVE OUR OWN BUILDING

WE WILL ALWAYS BE A CHURCH WHERE HURT, BROKEN, DISCONNECTED PEOPLE CAN WALK IN AND FELL WELCOMED, LOVED, AND KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A SAVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS