Pastor Mike Nodland of the Christian Fellowship Church in Vining, IA.

The track team in high school practiced daily on an oval cinder track. As usual, the runners paced themselves and the same ones would place first, second and third each time with the same stragglers lagging.

At one of the meets, the competing team was highly favored to win. As the starting gun sounded for the final race, the race was off to a predictable start. The fastest runners of the opposing team took the lead quickly and the slower runners fell behind, including all of our team! No hope for us in this race; but credit our team for hanging in there, lagging embarrassingly behind.

One of our usual stragglers made an extraordinary, determined effort and moved ahead–even of his fastest team members. That young man, who never seemed to have much strength or speed, quickly took the lead of the entire field of runners! Pouring it on, he hit the tape, finishing in a stunning first place. Totally exhausted, he stumbled headlong downward, sliding across the sharp cinder track to a shocked and shrieking crowd. The resulting injuries and suffering were unimaginable, but it was the cost to win!

It cost God His Only Son to die for the sins of the world. Jesus suffered for you to win! Have you won? Trust in Him and win the race!