Through Christ There is Comeback

"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 heartwarming comeback story titled "One year after heartbreaking disqualification, RWU runner captures national title," published last week, it was reported that Roger Williams University Runner Nathan Tassey's journey to the top was anything but easy.

While the standout athlete captured the university’s first-ever track and field national title this past May, the historic victory followed a heartbreaking defeat exactly one year earlier, when his first championship trophy was ripped right out of his hands.

Just three steps off the track was all it took for Tassey to be disqualified from the National Championships. But 367 days after that crushing blow, he found his redemption, winning the NCAA Division III national title in the 5,000-meter race.

“It didn't feel real at all,” Tassey said.

If there was some hesitancy on the runner's part to celebrate initially, it was understandable. To comprehend his caution, you have to go back to the previous year's 10,000-meter final, where Tassey was initially announced as the national champion.

For nearly half an hour, he believed his dream had been realized.

“I was crying, I was celebrating with my parents,” Tassey recalled, before officials broke the devastating news. “With a half a lap to go, I stepped over the line.”

Just three missteps in a grueling 25-lap race cost him the national title…

Instead of letting the disappointment define him, Tassey turned it into daily motivation...

When he finally returned to the D-3 National Championships to toe the line for the 10K once again, Tassey put forth a valiant effort, but ultimately fell short of the top spot…

However, Tassey had an ace in the hole: he had also qualified for the 5,000-meter race just one day later. He refused to let the 10K outcome linger.

Though his legs were sore from the grueling double-race schedule, Tassey hung tight to the lead pack right down to the final lap of the 5K...

Shifting into a full sprint for redemption, he gave the race everything he had left, finally crossing the finish line as a national champion. He ran his last lap in 57 seconds...

Tassey later said, "Nobody could ever write a more perfect ending than how that ending was."

And, you know, if redemption can be defined as the means of process of restoring something that was lost or given up, especially in the form of a personal comeback, Paul’s autobiography would definitely be listed as a personal comeback story.

You see, although Paul was known as a man “who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem,” aka the early Christians, after he had an encounter with Jesus, he shifted into full sprint and got back “on track” and served the Lord. In fact, the Bible tells us in Acts 9 that after Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”

But the story gets even better! The Bible tells us that "Then all who heard were amazed." And while they might have questioned his motives because of his past life (that warranted disqualification), in the end, “Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.” Talk about a comeback story!!

Paul went from persecuting the Jewish people to proclaiming that Jesus was indeed the King of the Jews (and of the gentiles) and the long awaited Savior of the world. And through Paul’s writings and subsequent life of bold evangelism and unprecedented missionary work, we know that Paul’s story has served, and will continue to serve, as an inspiration for millions of people around the world of what can happen when we surrender our lives to Jesus. 

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 

So, no matter what your life may look like today or what you might have done in the past, don’t lose heart my friend. With Christ, there is both redemption and a new start! With Christ, everyone who chooses to follow Him can have a perfect ending to their story. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that You are the God of second chances. Help us to truly understand that no matter what we’ve done, if we give our life to You, we can have a personal comeback in the same way that Paul did. Help us to seek You in all our ways that we might live a life worthy of being called sons and daughters of the Lord Most High. It’s in Your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen.

Happy Running!