The Race You Don't Have to Finish Alone

At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond lined up for the 400-meter semifinal with years of training behind him and a lifetime of hope ahead. He burst from the blocks strong. Then, about 150 meters from the finish, his hamstring snapped. He crumpled to the track, clutching his leg, his Olympic dream shattering in a single stride.

What happened next is what sixty-five thousand people in that stadium will never forget. Derek stood up. He started hobbling toward the finish line, tears streaming down his face. And then a large man in a T-shirt pushed past security, ran onto the track, and wrapped his arm around Derek's shoulders. It was Jim Redmond — his father. "You don't have to do this," Jim whispered. Derek said, "Yes, I do." His father replied, "Then we're going to finish together."

They crossed that line arm in arm while the crowd rose to its feet.

That is a picture of the freedom the Gospel offers. Not freedom from the race. Not freedom from the pain. But freedom from the lie that you have to run it alone, that your torn places disqualify you, that falling means it's over.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." The Father doesn't wait at the finish line with a clipboard. He runs onto the track. He puts His arm around you. And He says, "We're going to finish this together."

You were never meant to limp alone.