In an astonishing story published by Yahoo! News yesterday, it was reported that:
American runner Nathan Martin chased down the leader of Sunday’s Los Angeles Marathon to secure an improbable race win by just a fraction of a second.
In the final stretch of the 26.2-mile race, Martin suddenly began closing the distance between himself and Michael Kimani Kamau from Kenya. In a stunning scene, Martin dug deep and managed to catch the Kenyan before just barely passing him before the finish line. As Kamau felt Martin at his side, he extended his arms in a desperate attempt to reach for the finish line. He then fell to the ground as Martin surged ahead.
Martin won with a time of two hours, 11 minutes, and 16.50 seconds. He beat Kamau by just 0.01 seconds — the closest race in the history of the LA Marathon.
Wow right?
Wow right?
And, you know, when it comes to close race finishes, you and I would do well to remember that life is much like a marathon in that it has it’s up and downs and also has a definite start and finish line.
However, unlike in a marathon where there are mile markers displayed for runners to know when they’re in the home stretch, no one knows when their race will end. Which is the very reason that a person should not bank on having the time to make what’s known as a “death bed conversion” so they can live as they want on earth and still secure a spot in Heaven.
Known as the adoption of a new religious faith or the return to a former faith by an individual in their final moments of life, the Bible tells us of one such “death bed conversion” that closed the distance between a sinner and God at the last moment… that of the criminal on the cross.
“There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.” Luke 23:32-33
“But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’” Luke 23:40-41
For reasons unknown to us, the man who went to be with Jesus in the final stretch of his life was crucified on the “right hand” of Jesus. As he hung there and listened to the criminal on the other side of Jesus mocking Him, the man rebuked him and publicly admitted his belief that Jesus had done nothing wrong, thereby acknowledging Him as the Son of God.
“Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Talk about an improbable finish! This man had most likely spent a lifetime running away from God and living as he pleased. But knowing his time of departure was near, he made the decision to accept Jesus as his Savior. That meant when the criminal breathed his last breath on earth, he breathed his next breath in heaven.
Wow, right?
And while that penitent thief's story had a happy ending, there are millions of other unrepentant sinners whose stories did not end well. Why? Because they missed their window of opportunity to accept the only Way to Heaven. They banked on being able to close the distance in the final stretch but, in the end, came up short on time.
So don’t gamble on having the opportunity to repent and turn to Jesus miles, minutes, or even seconds from the finish line my friend. It's just too risky. Trust in Jesus today, if you haven’t already, so you can be assured that you will one day be with Him in Paradise.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and that only those who trust in You this side of the dirt will be saved. Help us to be bold in sharing this message so that no one would perish on account of us. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.
Happy Running!
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