Use Your Gifts for His Glory

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 NKJV

If you had been standing near the finish line of the New York City Marathon on November 1, you might have done a double take at the hot dog coming down the final stretch. Per an article published by Runner's World last week, inside the costume was Sarah Pezzino, an Easton, Pennsylvania, runner who finished the 26.2 mile race in 2:49:15, more than 22 minutes faster than the previous Guinness mark for a marathon dressed as a savory food. She was also running to raise money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. 

A year earlier, Sarah had considered giving up running after a medical emergency forced her out of the Chicago Marathon. A close friend encouraged her to race again, and together they made a plan that gave her a reason to look forward to running. When Sarah came down the final stretch in New York, she spotted her friends and CycleFit teammates cheering. They’d helped her raise money and supported her through two marathons in three weeks. As she told Runner’s World, “I didn’t cross a single finish line this year alone.” 

As both a runner and a running coach, I love that part of her story. You see, a good coach can see what a person is capable of. They know when to challenge you and when to tell you to take an easy day. And a good team? They’re the people who show up at your hardest miles, check on you after a tough run, and remind you why you started when you’re tempted to quit.

And you know, as this story clearly shows, we need those people in our walk with Jesus, too.

You see, God gives each of us gifts, and part of being a good steward of those gifts is being willing to develop what He’s entrusted to us. Sometimes that starts with someone saying, “I see a gift in you. Would you be willing to try?” Maybe a mature believer invites you to teach alongside her before you’re ready to lead a Bible study on your own. Maybe a friend notices how well you listen and invites you to visit someone who’s going through a hard season. Over time, their encouragement and honest feedback can help you serve with more confidence, skill, and humility.

"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

Peter goes on to say that we should serve with the strength God supplies so that He is glorified through Jesus Christ. Think about what that looks like in an ordinary week. You might spend an extra hour preparing for a Bible study so someone new to Scripture can follow along. You might use your gift for organizing to make sure a family has meals after a loss. The better we learn to use what God has given us, the more care we can bring to the people He puts in our path.

So, thank God for the people who have helped you grow my friend. Then take one step this week to put what He’s given you to work for someone else and give Him all the glory.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that our talents not only came from You but are to used for You, to bring You glory and to lead the lost to Jesus. Lord, help us to use our gifts to help others make it to the finish line and to enlist the help of others when we need it. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 
Happy Running!

Secret Sins Are No Secret to God

“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Luke 12:2–3 NKJV

In a story published by Runner’s World yesterday titled “853 Runners Were Disqualified From This Road Race. Many Broke the Same Starting-Line Rule,” it was reported that hundreds of runners who crossed the finish line of the Behobia-San Sebastián 20K in Spain on Sunday, November 8, were later disqualified for violating race rules.

According to the report, one of the major reasons for the disqualifications was runners starting in an earlier wave than the one they had been assigned. You see, runners were placed into starting groups based on their previous performances and were allowed to move back to a later wave, but not forward to an earlier one.

And while some runners may have thought they could slip into an earlier group unnoticed among the thousands of participants, there was something they apparently hadn’t considered.

Their timing chips were keeping a record of their actions.

Although they might have crossed the finish line believing they had successfully completed the race, their recorded data told a different story. And when the results were reviewed, 853 runners were disqualified for rule violations, although officials have not specified how many were disqualified for starting-wave infractions.

And you know, this story reminds me of a very important spiritual truth. Just because we think we’re getting away with something doesn’t mean we are.

In Luke 12:2–3, Jesus warned that nothing hidden will remain hidden forever. And while He was specifically addressing hypocrisy, His words remind us that there is nothing we can conceal from God.

Not our actions. Not our words. Not even the thoughts and motives of our hearts.

You see, we might be able to fool our friends, our families, our coworkers, and even our brothers and sisters in Christ. We might be able to put on a smile, attend church every Sunday, quote Scripture, and convince everyone around us that we’re living a life pleasing to God. But we can never fool God.

Hebrews 4:13 tells us, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Think about that for a moment.

Every secret sin. Every dishonest word. Every hidden compromise. Every act of disobedience we believe nobody knows about is fully visible to the One who sees everything.

And while we might be tempted to believe that a sin isn’t a big deal as long as nobody finds out, the truth is that sin doesn’t become wrong when it’s discovered. It was wrong the moment we chose to commit it.

And here’s something else we need to understand. Just because God doesn’t immediately expose or discipline us for our sins doesn’t mean He approves of them.

His patience is not permission to continue sinning. It’s an opportunity to repent.

Romans 2:4 reminds us that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. What a beautiful reminder that our loving Father doesn’t want us to remain trapped in the very sins that separate us from close fellowship with Him. He wants us to confess them, turn away from them, and experience the freedom that comes from walking in obedience to His Word.

And that’s why 1 John 1:9 gives us this wonderful promise: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Is that  an amazing demonstration of God’s mercy, or what? 

You see, those runners may have crossed the finish line believing their race was complete, only to discover later that their results had been disqualified. And spiritually speaking, we would be wise to remember that simply appearing to run a good race doesn’t mean we’re running according to God’s instructions. We can’t knowingly disregard His Word and expect our disobedience to go unnoticed.

But here’s the good news. We don’t have to wait until our sins are exposed to make things right with God. We can come to Him today with a repentant heart, confess what we’ve done, and receive His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

And while our good works can never earn us salvation, genuine faith in Jesus should produce a growing desire to obey Him—even when nobody else is watching.

So let me challenge you today to examine your heart. Is there something you’re hiding? Something you’ve justified because you believe nobody knows about it? Some secret sin you’ve allowed to continue because there haven’t been any visible consequences? If so, don’t wait for it to be exposed. Bring it before the Lord today.

Because the goal of the Christian life isn’t simply to look like we’re running a good race. It’s to actually run one—with integrity, obedience, and a heart fully surrendered to Jesus Christ.

And remember this as you run your race today…There are no secret sins in the eyes of God. 
So live in such a way that you have nothing to hide, whether anyone is watching or not my friend. This is the only way you’ll be sure that you’re not disqualified for violating the race rules. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that leads us on the path of righteousness. Thank You also for reminding us that nothing that we do or say can be hidden from You, no matter how well we hide it from the world. Help us to remember that at all times that we might never stray off course thinking we can win the race by any other means than by sticking to the rules. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 
Happy Running!

BASS PRO MIDWEEK MOTIVATION - Reflect on the Lessons

Hello Runner Friends!

Welcome back to the Bass Pro Fitness Series

MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog!

Now let's get started by talking about the past two weekends. What fun they've been! First, we had Marathon Weekend which consisted of the Bass Pro Marathon, the Cohick Half Marathon, the Marathon Relay and the CMC 5k. Not to mention a totally fun two-day expo. And then we had the Dogwood Canyon Trails runs with the 25k/50k on Saturday and the 15k Sunday. As someone who had the blessing of taking part in both weekends (the marathon, 50k, and 15k), I'll tell you that it was bittersweet to cross the final finish line of 2026. And I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt that way. 

And if you're feeling that way, rest assured that it's normal. I mean, think about it. You trained for months. You logged the miles, pushed through the tough workouts, sacrificed sleep, battled the weather, and showed up on days when motivation was nowhere to be found. You spent much of the year preparing for Bass Pro Marathon Weekend, the Dogwood Canyon Trail Runs, or maybe even BOTH!

And now? Just like that, it's over.

The finish lines have been crossed, the medals have been earned, and the sore muscles are finally beginning to recover. But before you pack away your running shoes or start chasing your next big goal, I want to encourage you to do something important....  Reflect.

Because while the races may be over, the lessons you learned along the way don't have to be. Think about the person you were when you first started training compared to the person you are today. Think about the mornings you got up when you wanted to sleep in, the runs you finished when quitting seemed easier, and the moments you discovered you were capable of far more than you ever imagined.

That's GRIT. And grit doesn't just make you a better runner. It makes you better at LIFE.

Every time you pushed through a difficult mile, you practiced perseverance. Every time you adjusted your training because things didn't go as planned, you learned adaptability. Every time you kept going when your body was tired and your mind was begging you to stop, you strengthened your ability to face adversity.

And guess what? Life is FULL of those same challenges.

There will be days when your job is overwhelming, when relationships are difficult, when finances are stressful, or when life simply doesn't go according to plan. But the same determination that carried you up those Dogwood Canyon hills or through those final miles at Bass Pro can help you navigate life's obstacles. Pretty cool, right? 

You see, running teaches us that discomfort doesn't always mean defeat, that progress isn't always pretty, and that sometimes the greatest victories come from simply refusing to give up.

And let's not forget something else. GRATITUDE.

Consider it a blessing to have had the opportunity to participate in one or both of these incredible weekends! It means you have a body capable of movement. You also had a community of runners who encouraged one another, volunteers who gave of their time, and events that brought people together through a shared love of running. And let's not forget the amazing bling we all went home with! Those 26.2 and 13.1 jackets were amazing! 

And think about this too... Not everyone had the opportunity to stand at the starting line. And not everyone who started the journey made it to race day. That's worth remembering.

Which means, whether you earned a personal record, barely beat the cutoff, walked more than you planned, or didn't get the finish you hoped for, you still gained something valuable from the journey. 
You gained experience. You gained perspective. You gained strength. And hopefully, you gained a deeper appreciation for what your body and mind can accomplish when you refuse to quit. I know I certainly did. 

So here's my challenge to you as you reflect back on all the goodness that came out of these two events: 

Don't let the lessons end where the race did. Take that grit into your workplace. Take that perseverance into your relationships. Take that discipline into your daily habits. And take that gratitude into every new day you're blessed to experience.

And then do this...  Sometime this week, take 10 minutes to reflect on your running journey and complete these three simple steps:

1. Write down THREE lessons running taught you this year. Maybe it was patience, perseverance, discipline, confidence, or learning that you're stronger than you thought.

2. Choose ONE area of your everyday life where you can apply one of those lessons. Is there a difficult conversation you've been avoiding? A personal goal you've been putting off? A challenge that seems overwhelming? Take one small, intentional step toward tackling it using the same determination you brought to your training.

3. Express gratitude to ONE person who helped you along the way. Send a text, make a phone call, or simply tell someone how much their encouragement meant. None of us gets to the finish line entirely on our own!

And here's my BONUS CHALLENGE: Share one lesson you learned from Marathon Weekend or Dogwood Canyon in the comments! Your experience just might be the encouragement someone else needs today.

Remember, you don't have to be training for a race to keep becoming a better version of yourself. Recovery is important, and rest is part of the process, but personal growth can continue every single day. Because the greatest reward of running isn't always the medal hanging around your neck. Sometimes it's the stronger, more resilient, more grateful person you've become along the way.

And there you have it friends. The race may be over, but the growth doesn't have to stop.Keep showing up. Keep growing. Keep being better than you were yesterday. And never forget that you don't HAVE to run. You GET to run! Is that a reason to reflect and be grateful or what? 

Happy Running!

When Suffering is Self Inflicted

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV

After slowly walking into work Monday morning, a coworker and I began to discuss what we did over the weekend. After telling her all about the fun I had at the Dogwood Canyon two-day Trail Runs (at which I ran nearly 42 miles up and down the steep and rocky Ozark mountains), I also told her about the pain in my quads that explained why I was doing the dreaded marathon shuffle.

After we had a good laugh, I said, “I really can't complain too much, though, because I brought this suffering on myself. After all, it's one thing to suffer for something you didn't deserve, but when you bring the suffering on yourself, it's better to just accept it.”

And let me tell you, we had another good laugh about that! She was quick to assure me, though, that this was one type of suffering she would NEVER be bringing upon herself. Is that funny or what? 

But you know, spiritually speaking, there's a valuable lesson here for all of us. And the lesson is this…

Sometimes we suffer through no fault of our own, and other times we suffer because of the choices we've made. And while we may never understand why God allows certain trials in our lives, we can trust His promise in Romans 8:28 that He works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

But what about the suffering we bring upon ourselves?

You see, the Bible tells us in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” In other words, our choices have consequences. And while God promises to forgive us when we genuinely repent and turn from our sins, He doesn't promise to remove all the consequences of those sins.

Consider King David. Although God forgave him for his sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah after he repented, David still suffered painful consequences for his actions (2 Samuel 12). His forgiveness was real, but so were the consequences. And the same is true for us.

Poor decisions can damage relationships, destroy trust, harm our health, and leave us dealing with consequences long after we've asked God for forgiveness. And when that happens, we can't blame God for the suffering we've brought upon ourselves. We must take responsibility, learn from our mistakes, and move forward in obedience.

But here's the beautiful thing about God's mercy. Even when we deserve the consequences of our actions, God doesn't abandon us in our suffering.

Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that His mercies are new every morning. Think about that! Every single morning we wake up is another opportunity to experience God's compassion, learn from yesterday's mistakes, and make better choices today.

And while God's mercy doesn't always remove the consequences of our actions, it assures us that our failures don't have to define our future.

In fact, Psalm 103:10-12 tells us that God has not dealt with us according to our sins or punished us according to our iniquities. And that as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

What an amazing picture of mercy!

You see, mercy isn't God giving us what we deserve. Mercy is God withholding the punishment we deserve. And nowhere is that mercy more evident than at the cross, where Jesus willingly suffered for sins He never committed so that we could be forgiven of the sins we did commit.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus didn't wait for us to get our lives together. He didn't wait for us to become worthy of His love. He suffered and died for us while we were still sinners!

And because of that great mercy, we can face the consequences of our past without being consumed by guilt, shame, or regret. We can repent, accept God's forgiveness, make things right where we can, and trust Him to help us move forward.

Does that mean life will suddenly become easy? Of course not. But it does mean that our suffering is never wasted when we surrender it to God. Whether we're suffering because of circumstances beyond our control or because of choices we wish we could undo, God can use those experiences to humble us, teach us, strengthen our faith, and draw us closer to Him.

And that's something we should be incredibly thankful for.

As for my sore quads? Well, I knew what I was getting into when I signed up to run those beautiful but challenging trails. And while I might be shuffling around for a few more days, I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. But the spiritual lesson is one I hope we never forget.

We may not get to choose the consequences of our actions, but we DO get to choose how we respond to them. We can become bitter, blame God, and remain stuck in regret, or we can take responsibility, receive His mercy, and allow Him to use even our mistakes for our good and His glory.

So whatever suffering you might be facing today, remember this my friend: God's mercy is greater than your mistakes, His grace is sufficient for your struggles, and His love is not diminished by your failures.

You can't always undo what you've done, but through Jesus Christ, you can be forgiven, restored, and given a new beginning. And that's a reason to praise Him today and every day. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning. Thank You also for Your grace that provides forgiveness of our sins. Help us to undertand that forgiveness doesn’t always free us from the consequences of our transgressions here on this earth Lord, but does ensure that we will inherit eternal life where all things will be made new. Thank you for that promise. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Practice Gratitude Every Day

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 NKJV

Yesterday morning, before the start of the second day of the Dogwood Canyon Trail Run, I had the privilege of sharing a devotional with the runners preparing to tackle the beautiful but challenging 15K course. And while the message was directed toward runners, it's one that applies to every single one of us, whether we run or not.

You see, the message was simple but powerful. We don't HAVE to run. We GET to run! And when we begin to understand the difference between those two statements, we begin to understand just how important gratitude is to living a joyful life.

As I reminded the runners yesterday, by God's grace, we had been given another day to wake up, lace up our running shoes, breathe in the fresh air, and experience the beauty of His creation. We had the opportunity to challenge our bodies, enjoy the fellowship of others, and do something that many people would love to do but physically cannot.

And what a blessing that is!

I challenged the runners to remember that when the hills got steep and their legs grew tired. Rather than saying, "I HAVE to climb this hill," I encouraged them to say, "Thank You, Lord, that I GET to climb this hill!"

Because the truth is, what we sometimes complain about is the very thing someone else is praying for the ability to do. And isn't that true of so many things in life?

We complain about having to go to work when someone else is praying for a job. We grumble about having to clean the house when someone else is praying for a place to call home. We complain about being busy with our families when someone else is longing for the companionship and relationships we sometimes take for granted.

You see, gratitude changes our perspective. When we focus on what we HAVE to do, even our greatest blessings can begin to feel like burdens. But when we focus on what we GET to do, we begin to recognize just how good God has been to us.

And that brings me to the greatest reason we have to be thankful.

Jesus didn't HAVE to die for us. He CHOSE to die for us!

Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Not after we cleaned up our lives. Not after we became worthy of His love. And certainly not because we had done anything to deserve it.

“No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:18 NKJV

He willingly laid down His life because He loved us. In John 10:18, Jesus explained that no one took His life from Him, but that He laid it down of Himself. His sacrifice was voluntary, motivated by love, and made in obedience to the Father's will.

Think about that for a moment. The Son of God willingly endured the cross to pay the price for our sins so that through faith in Him, we could receive the gift of eternal life.

If that doesn't give us a reason to be grateful, I don't know what will!

Psalm 100:4 tells us,“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (NKJV)

Notice that Scripture doesn't tell us to be thankful only when life is easy, when everything is going our way, or when we have everything we want. We are called to be thankful because God is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His faithfulness never ends.

That's why I challenged the runners yesterday to spend their miles praising God. To thank Him for the strength to climb the hills, for the ability to keep moving when their legs grew tired, and for the breathtaking beauty of the birds, waterfalls, streams, and valleys along the course.

I even encouraged them to sing a praise song or two as they ran! After all, if the birds can sing, why shouldn't we lift our voices in praise to the One who created us?

But here's what I want you to understand today. We don't have to be running through the beautiful trails of Dogwood Canyon to practice gratitude. We can do it wherever God has placed us and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

We can thank Him for the breath in our lungs, the people in our lives, the opportunities before us, and even the challenges that cause us to depend on Him more. And when life gets hard, we can still praise Him for the one blessing that can never be taken away from those who belong to Christ—the promise of eternal life through Jesus.

You see, gratitude doesn't mean that life is always easy or that we won't face some difficult hills and valleys. It simply means that we choose to focus on the goodness of God rather than allowing our circumstances to steal our joy.

And the more we practice gratitude, the more we begin to recognize His blessings all around us.

So today, I want to challenge you to do the same thing I challenged those runners to do yesterday. Change your HAVE TOs into GET TOs. Look for the blessings in the ordinary moments. Thank God for the little things as well as the big things. And most importantly, never stop thanking Him for the gift of salvation that Jesus willingly made possible through His death on the cross.

Because the truth is, every breath is a blessing, every day is a gift, and every opportunity we have is another reason to praise the One who gave us life and gave His life for us.

So run grateful. Walk grateful. Work grateful. And live grateful. Not because life is always good, but because God is always good!

Heavenly Father, thank You for all the ways You are good to us. Lord, in response to providing a way to eternal life, help us to live lives of gratitude. Help us to be so joyful and so thankful everywhere we go that others might be drawn to the One who elicits this response. It's in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!

Value Spiritual Training over Physical Training

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

In a story titled “Leading US Marathon Runner Trains at Planet Fitness,” published yesterday, it was reported that up-and-coming star Vinny Mauri, who won the 2025 Chicago Marathon has a different training setting than most other elite athletes do. The 25-year-old trains at his local Planet Fitness in Ohio.

Most of his training miles, he said, are completed on the treadmills of his local gym, where a membership costs $24.99 a month.

Mauri smashed the Glass City Marathon course record in April, winning the race in a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 54 seconds. At a speed of 4:48 per mile, this was the fastest debut marathon by an American in history. Speaking on his unique training base, Mauri said:

“People love that I’m just doing it from here, doing it from home. I didn’t really have to relocate to do the thing that I love.”

And, you know, while physical training is important—hence the reason there are many ways and places to train—training spiritually is even more important. 

This was something Paul alluded to when he said, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Paul clearly understood that, while physical training could strengthen the body and improve a person's health, spiritual training could strengthen the soul and prepare a person for eternity. In addition, the benefits of physical fitness are temporary while the benefits of godliness are eternal. Think about that for a moment.

No matter how many miles we run, how many weights we lift, or how well we take care of our bodies, they will eventually wear out. Our strength will fade, our endurance will diminish, and one day our earthly lives will come to an end. But the time we spend growing closer to God, studying His Word, praying, and learning to walk in obedience to Him will never be wasted. Because while physical training prepares us for the challenges of this life, spiritual training prepares us for both this life and the one to come.

And that's why Paul said godliness is profitable for all things.

You see, the discipline we develop through spiritual training doesn't just help us become better Christians on Sunday mornings. It changes how we live every single day. It teaches us to respond with patience instead of anger, to choose obedience over temptation, to trust God when life gets hard, and to remain faithful when things don't go our way. It gives us the wisdom, strength, and endurance we need to navigate the trials of this world while keeping our eyes fixed on eternity.

But here's the thing. Just as a runner can't expect to finish a marathon without putting in the training miles, we can't expect to be spiritually strong without putting in the time to grow in our faith. Spiritual strength, like physical strength, requires intentional and consistent training. That means making time to read our Bibles, spending time in prayer, putting God's Word into practice, and choosing to follow Jesus even when it's difficult.

And while there's certainly nothing wrong with spending an hour at the gym or going for a long run—in fact, taking care of the bodies God has entrusted to us is an important part of being good stewards—we should never become so focused on training our bodies that we neglect training our souls.

After all, what good would it do us to be in the best physical shape of our lives if we were spiritually weak? What good would it do to cross the finish line of every race we entered if we failed to faithfully run the race God has set before us?

The answer is simple. Nothing we accomplish physically can compare to the eternal value of knowing Jesus Christ and living for Him.

So, by all means, lace up those running shoes, hit the gym, and take care of the body God has given you my friend. But make sure you're putting even more effort into growing spiritually. Because the medals, records, and physical accomplishments we work so hard for will one day mean nothing, but the rewards of a life faithfully lived for Christ will last forever.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Bible that gives us everything we need to become spiritually fit so that we can run the race with endurance, remain on course, and make it to the finish line. Lord, help us to take our training in the Word so seriously that we make it our top priority. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!

Don’t Put Off the Decision

"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NKJV

In a heartbreaking story posted by Runner’s World on Tuesday, it was reported that Rachel Apa was nearing the end of her first New York City Marathon when she collapsed in Central Park on Sunday, November 1. The 24-year-old had spent months putting in the work needed to conquer 26.2 miles, but never made it across the finish line. Instead, she was taken to Mount Sinai Medical Center, where she died later that night.

Apa, a Bucknell University alum who lived in central Pennsylvania, came to New York to run with Parkinson's Foundation Champions, raising money in memory of her grandfather, who died from the disease in 2022.

According to reporting from The New York Times, the medical emergency happened around 1:30 p.m. close to Mile 24, around 85th Street, right as runners enter the final stretch through Central Park. Several spectators rushed to help and began performing CPR. New York Road Runners medical staff arrived shortly after, and tried to resuscitate her with a defibrillator before paramedics took her to the hospital…

Doctors spent hours trying to save Rachel. Her father, Steve, told the newspaper she was pronounced dead around 9:40 p.m.

"It's unfathomable," he told the newspaper. "Perfect health, perfect shape, 24 years old."

Steve told the Times that his daughter died from rhabdomyolysis, which occurs when damaged muscle tissue breaks down and releases substances into the bloodstream. The condition can cause serious kidney damage and, according to the Cleveland Clinic, can be triggered by extreme physical exertion.

And you know, Rachel's death is a heartbreaking reminder of just how fragile life is and how quickly everything can change. At only 24 years old, she had her whole life ahead of her. She had trained for months, made plans for the future, and was just over two miles away from accomplishing something she had worked so hard for. But in an instant, everything changed.

And while we don't know what tomorrow holds, or even what the next moment might bring, this story reminds us of this... not one of us is guaranteed another breath.

That's why Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 are so important. When he said, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation," he was urging people not to put off accepting God's gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. You see, salvation is available to everyone who repents of their sins and places their faith in Jesus Christ, but the opportunity to make that decision will not last forever.

And that's something you and I simply cannot afford to ignore or to share. 

You see, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." This means that when our earthly lives come to an end, our eternal destiny is settled. There are no second chances to repent after death. 

And as difficult as it might be to hear, those who die in their sins, having rejected Jesus Christ as their Savior, will not inherit eternal life.

Jesus Himself warned us of this when He said, "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." (John 8:24 NKJV)

This is why the decision to follow Jesus is the most important decision you will ever make. More important than your career, your relationships, your accomplishments, or any goal you could ever achieve. Because while all those things matter here on earth, only your relationship with Jesus Christ determines where you will spend eternity.

And here's the beautiful thing. God doesn't want anyone to perish. Second Peter 3:9 tells us that the Lord is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." That's why He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, making a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. Salvation isn't something we can earn by being good enough or doing enough good things. It's a gift of grace received through faith in Jesus Christ.

But it's a gift we must personally receive.

So let me ask you something. If your life ended today, would you be ready to stand before God? Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior? Or have you been putting off that decision, assuming you'll have plenty of time to make it later?

If so, please don't wait!

As runners, we spend countless hours preparing to cross a finish line. We train, sacrifice, and discipline ourselves because we know how important it is to be ready when race day comes. But how much more important is it to prepare for the finish line of life? After all, we know when a marathon is scheduled to end. We have no idea when our earthly race will be over.

And while we can always sign up for another race if we miss one, we cannot go back and make the decision to follow Christ once our lives have ended.

So, if you haven't accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I urge you to do it today my friend—because tomorrow isn't promised, the next moment isn't guaranteed, and eternity is far too long to be wrong about where you will spend it. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the free gift of salvation that You provide to all those who choose to accept You as Savior and to turn from their sins. Lord, help us to be bold as we work alongside You to plead with the lost to receive Your gift of grace while they still have time, knowing there will be no second chances after death. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!