The Checkered Flag

If you were a racer what would you desire? To win! That probably didn’t take very long to answer. The goal of every racer is to cross the finish line. A sprint may be over in seconds or the Alaskan Iditarod may take days to complete. Whatever the race, the object is to be first across the line. If you succeed you will be given the trophy. You will hear the applause of the crowd at the finish line. In some races finishing the race is enough reason for a standing ovation, at least as far as your family is concerned. You may not have come in first place but you endured to the end and crossed the line.

In auto racing, receiving the checkered flag is the goal of ever racer. Every driver wants to take a lap around the winner’s circle with that black and white checkered cloth flapping in the wind. Some have been so close but never tasted the thrill of victory. That one flag has eluded them for their entire career. Other teams have taken their fair share of the winnings and because of their success are featured in many venues.

Life is like a giant marathon where endurance is the hallmark of success. Some prefer to watch the race from the bleachers. Others have chosen to qualify and are active participants. As you run, God is standing at the finish line ready to wave the checkered flag as you pass from this life into eternity.

In order to move from the bleachers to the starting gate, you must qualify. To qualify, you become a follower of Jesus Christ, acknowledging that He is the Team Leader. Then you get on the track and keep going until you reach the finish line and the checkered flag.

Paul the Apostle wrote in 2 Timothy, that he had run the race, kept the faith and fought the good fight. He knew his life was almost over and the prize for staying true to God was receiving his eternal reward. Paul knew the white flag was announcing his position. He was in his final lap, and now was not the time to lose focus and give up. For Paul, the race was almost over. Yet, he told his friends in Philippi to forget what had happened in the past, and to keep pressing on to the prize God had prepared just up ahead. You could almost see God unfurling the checkered flag, ready to proclaim him victorious. Paul’s was a life well ran; a great race near its completion and yours can be too.

Recently, we received news of our friend, Bob, passing away suddenly. It was completely unexpected. Yet, as I think about Bob, I realized God had waved the checkered flag. Many years ago, he qualified for this race as he had invited Christ to be his Saviour. Throughout the course of the race, his life ambition was to share his faith and convictions in a professional manner as a pastor. Sometime this past year, God lifted the white flag. Bob’s race was almost over and for every step of that last lap, Bob was living his life all out for Jesus. On March 31, while Bob was at the gym, God raised the checkered flag and ushered him across the finish line. Bob Wahl’s race was now complete and he had run well. He crossed the finish line, and is with Jesus now, living in the presence of God.

I hope that when you come to your life’s end that you have qualified for heaven, and are ready to enter into God’s winners circle because you have made Christ your Lord and received His forgiveness. I have no idea of the length of my race but I know with assurance that as I cross the finish line God will be waving His checkered flag welcoming me into His glory. How about you? Are you guaranteed a win?