In the final scene, we see Charlie Brown, still grinning, failing to take the final turn of the race and running out the stadium completely and being disqualified.
This is typical for the hard-luck Charlie Brown, but it does not have to be the experience of those who follow Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews admonishes us to “. . . run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
As we move forward on this journey, like Charlie Brown, we can become easily distracted. However, God is always near. He is full of grace and mercy, and His Spirit is our steady and ever-present guide.
Because of this, even at the end of our lives, we can echo the Apostle Paul’s words that he wrote before his execution: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Prayer:
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,
that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a
mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen. (from The Book of Common Prayer)
This post was written by Charles W. Christian who is managing editor of Holiness Today. You can find his original post here: holinesstoday.org/finishing-well