Sack Race To Heaven

Sack Race To Heaven

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:14

“How long do I have before this cancer takes me home?” Allen asked me one December.

“Only the Lord knows our days, but the cancer you have is advanced, and surgery isn’t an option at this point. Typically, most patients at this stage have fewer than six months.”

“I have a few things I need to do before I go,” Allen said, “and I’m going to do my best to press forward. Please don’t tell anyone else my prognosis.”

Allen’s family was aware that he had cancer, but they had no idea how little time he had left. When anyone asked him about it, Allen simply replied, “Jesus and I have this thing beat!”

Allen wanted to live long enough to be at his son’s wedding, but by the time the family sent out the announcements, Allen had already lived six months longer than expected—and the wedding was still six months away.

“I’m still running the race,” he told me at his next appointment, “but it feels like a three-legged sack race. My son is getting married in June. I think I can make it. What do you think?”

“You’ve already lived longer than all the studies I’ve read, so we’ll just trust God with this,” I said.

“It’s a good thing that Jesus is my partner in this sack race!” Allen said. “We’ve got it beat!”

A few weeks before the wedding, Allen was having trouble swallowing. I arranged for him to have a feeding tube inserted into his abdomen to help with his nutrition.

“Let’s fight the good fight,” Allen said.

By the time of the wedding, Allen was in a wheelchair. But the bride was beautiful, and the groom was beaming with pride. When I saw Allen the next week, he said, “I’m ready now. Everything on my list is checked off. Jesus and I, we got this thing beat.”

Two months later, Allen finished the race, still holding tight to the promises of his heavenly sack race partner.

TODAY’S RX

With Jesus as your partner in the race of life, you will be victorious every time.

Jesus, help me to have a positive outlook as I fight the good fight and keep my eyes on the finish line. You are the fuel I need to keep going, the partner to root me on. Thank you for being beside me always.