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It is not how you run the race that matters it is how you finish. Several years ago I was running the “Turkey Trot” a 3 mile race in my hometown. I was in my early 50's and was more physically fit than I had ever been. At the beginning of the race I surveyed the other runners and I thought to myself. I knew most of these people and I am pretty confident I could beat them all. This was going to be my year to win the race. If you know anything about long distance running you know it is very important to pace yourself so that when you get to the finish line you still have some gas in the tank. There was a group of young kids in the race that started off with a sprint. I hung back because I knew they couldn't maintain that pace for 3 miles. Sure enough after the first mile I had passed them all. It wasn't long after that a boy about 10 to 12 years old sprinted by me. I remember him clearly for 2 reasons, first he was running with his shoes untied, a big no-no for an experienced runner, secondly he would sprint for a couple hundred yards then he would stop running and walk. Each time he started walking I would catch up to him and pass him again. This went on all the way to the last mile. At the beginning of the last mile I saw him standing at an intersection. As I got nearer he asked me which way to go. I gave him directions and he sprinted away again. At the bottom of the last hill he started walking again. I was confident I had him beat at this point because we were within a half mile of the finish line and still felt strong. I passed him for what I was thought was the last time and never looked back. To my amazement just 10 yards from the finish line he sprinted past me and won the race. He broke all the rules of successful distance running and still beat me to claim the gold medal at the finish line.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.
Samson's life could have been one of the most epic successes in all of the bible, but instead it turns out to be a story of what not to do. Samson is one of the most recognizable of the judges who ruled over Israel before the time of the kings. On 3 occasions the bible says that the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon Samson, allowing him to do amazing feats of strength. By the Spirit of the Lord He killed a Lion with his bare hands. By the Spirit of the Lord, he struck down 30 men in Ashkelon. By the Spirit of the Lord he snapped his bonds and killed 1000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Samson was a Nazarite from birth. Being a Nazarite means Samson had to honor three standards. He could not touch a dead body, he could not shave the hair of his head and he could not drink alcohol. Even though he was a Nazarite, he broke the rules of the Nazarite vow. Just like my “Turkey Trot” race, the young boy broke all the rules of long distance running but like Samson he finished well. In the end Samson was defeated, shaved and shackled. Samson's enemies were celebrating their victory by making sacrifices to their god Dagon. They called for him, they stationed him between two pillars. Once he was in position, he asked God to strengthen him one more time.
Judges 16:28 NIV Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.”
Even the strong can be brought to weakness. It’s important to resist those things that can derail your faithfulness to God. Although Samson had broken all the rules in the race of life in the end he repented and at the end of his life, God restored his strength. He took hold of the pillars, braced himself, and pushe
