Go For the Negative Split

"Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?" But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ." Acts 9:20-22 NKJV

In a story titled “Rochester Hills runner wins women’s open at Crim Festival of Races 10-mile race,” published over the weekend, it was reported that Dot McMahan, a professional runner from Rochester Hills, finished first in the women’s open at the HAP CareSource Crim Festival of Races 10-mile run. McMahon, 48, finished the race with a time of 55 minutes and 47 seconds, according to Crim race results. This is her 12th Crim Festival of Races 10-mile run, she said. Like the winner of the men’s division, McMahan said she likes that the second half of the race is more difficult. “I always try to run the second half faster than the first,” McMahan said. “... That’s always my big goal – no matter what kind of shape I am in, I just know I try to conquer the course.”

In the world of running, completing the second half faster (aka better) than the first is known as a negative split and is something every runner strives for. It not only shows that a person ran a strategic race but is proof that a runner can finish well no matter how poorly they might have started the race. Which is great news when it comes to our race to the final finish line. You see, Jesus is in the business of giving second chances. That means no matter how "bad" a person might have lived the first part of their lives (rejecting Christ, wasting their talents, chasing after the things of this world, etc.), when they give their lives to the Lord, they can make a fresh start and pick up speed on their final miles. Is that awesome or what?

"Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." Acts 7:57-58

Now if this has you saying, "But Melissa, you don't know what I've done," let me tell you about a man named Paul who set the world on fire for Christ. Throughout the entire Bible, no one personifies the dramatic change of an encounter with God like Paul (who was formerly known as Saul). When we first meet Saul in Acts 7, he’s overseeing the first Christian (Stephen) being martyred for their faith.

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. it is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. '"Acts 9:1-6

From there, Saul went on to try and destroy the early church by dragging Christian women and men from their homes and throwing them into prison. On his way to Damascus to do more harm to the church, Saul had a sudden encounter with Jesus. As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. "Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. it is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

From that moment on, Saul’s life changed dramatically. Immediately, Paul, who was now on the right course, set out to get a negative split by beginning to boldly preach that Jesus is the Son of God everywhere he went! He had both a name change and a change of purpose! Talk about doing a total 180 degree turn! Not only did he make his life about building up the church he wanted to destroy, but he ran full speed ahead "in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ." Paul was so intent on going for a "negative split" after meeting Jesus that he was willing to suffer immensely for the cause. He was beaten, starved, imprisoned, stoned and more. Eventually he would even give his life for the gospel.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 

2 Timothy 4:7

So, if you're reading this today and saying, "I haven't been on the right course and I want to make a change," take heart my friend. As I said before, our God is the God of second chances (and third, and fourth, etc.). Which means if there's still breath in your lungs, it's never too late to "go for the negative split." Because, in the end, it really doesn't matter how you started the race, what matters is how you end it. Paul started the race as a persecutor of Christians and ended the race as a preacher of the Gospel who could confidently declare, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” And you can do the same by choosing to follow Jesus Christ with your whole heart today. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many stories and examples of people in the Bible You have given us who didn't start the race well but ended the race well. Help us to draw strength and inspiration from these examples Lord that we might remind others (and ourselves) that it's never too late to go for the negative split. No matter what we've done or what age we are, cause us to know that we can have a new purpose when we choose to trust You as our Savior and allow You to direct us back to the right course. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!