William Henry Rodgers is an American runner, Olympian, and former record holder in the marathon. Rodgers is best known for his four victories in both the Boston Marathon, including three straight from 1978 to 1980, and 4 straight wins in the New York City Marathon, between 1976 and 1979.
Bill Broadhurst was a great runner and he entered a 10k race in Omahu, a race that Bill Rodgers would win in less than 30 minutes.
Bill Broadhurst had a handicap, he was paralyzed on his entire left side from an aneurism early in life. But he still loved to run and for him to be in the same race as his hero Bill Rodgers was the greatest thing he could imagine.
The banners had been taken down, the traffic had begun to flow on the roads, there was nothing left that would tell you that a race had been run.
Except one man Bill Broadhurst who was still running the race. 2 hours ago Bill Rodgers had finished the race and now Bill Broadhurst was nearing the place where the finish line was. A couple of kids on bikes rode beside him and said "Hey mister, are you still running the race? It’s been over for hours, someone’s already finished first and won. Why don’t you quit, the race is over?"
Broadhurst replied, "I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line". And he kept on running. As he approached the place where he knew the finish line would be, Bill Rodgers and about 30 people stepped out from an alley and they placed a banner up and strung a ribbon across the road. And Bill Broadhurst stumbled across the finish line. And there stood his hero, Bill Rodgers who took off the ribbon form his neck and placed it around the neck of Broadhurst, and he said, "you are a winner...” As a follower of this Jesus of the Bible, we are running a race too. And that race will require endurance. And what will keep you and me going is keeping your eyes on the champion who has finished before us…Jesus. The race won’t be easy and there will be those who will quit and those who will call out for you to quit. But don’t. Like Bill Broadhurst responded when kids told him to just quit, he said “I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line.” And though it may be lonely at times there will come that moment when you will see the finish line and there will stand your hero, this Jesus of the Bible. And maybe in some way he’ll take off a ribbon from his neck and place it on yours and announce to all who can hear… “You are a winner. Enter into the joy of your master.” Don’t quit, don’t give up. You can do it and your champion and a lot of us are cheering you on. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (2) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ
Bill Broadhurst was a great runner and he entered a 10k race in Omahu, a race that Bill Rodgers would win in less than 30 minutes.
Bill Broadhurst had a handicap, he was paralyzed on his entire left side from an aneurism early in life. But he still loved to run and for him to be in the same race as his hero Bill Rodgers was the greatest thing he could imagine.
The banners had been taken down, the traffic had begun to flow on the roads, there was nothing left that would tell you that a race had been run.
Except one man Bill Broadhurst who was still running the race. 2 hours ago Bill Rodgers had finished the race and now Bill Broadhurst was nearing the place where the finish line was. A couple of kids on bikes rode beside him and said "Hey mister, are you still running the race? It’s been over for hours, someone’s already finished first and won. Why don’t you quit, the race is over?"
Broadhurst replied, "I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line". And he kept on running. As he approached the place where he knew the finish line would be, Bill Rodgers and about 30 people stepped out from an alley and they placed a banner up and strung a ribbon across the road. And Bill Broadhurst stumbled across the finish line. And there stood his hero, Bill Rodgers who took off the ribbon form his neck and placed it around the neck of Broadhurst, and he said, "you are a winner...” As a follower of this Jesus of the Bible, we are running a race too. And that race will require endurance. And what will keep you and me going is keeping your eyes on the champion who has finished before us…Jesus. The race won’t be easy and there will be those who will quit and those who will call out for you to quit. But don’t. Like Bill Broadhurst responded when kids told him to just quit, he said “I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line.” And though it may be lonely at times there will come that moment when you will see the finish line and there will stand your hero, this Jesus of the Bible. And maybe in some way he’ll take off a ribbon from his neck and place it on yours and announce to all who can hear… “You are a winner. Enter into the joy of your master.” Don’t quit, don’t give up. You can do it and your champion and a lot of us are cheering you on. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. (2) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Remember I’m praying for you…
PJ