This video is a great illustration of the Scriptures that talk about Christianity being a race,  We are called to keep our eyes on Christ and to run strong to the end.  It is so easy to be distracted by the crowd, and even run for the crowd, rather than keeping our eyes on the prize.  We do have a huge crowd of witnesses watching us – but our eyes are still to be upon Christ in order to finish strong and win.

Video Summary:

This is the moment a college athlete’s victory turned to ashes in his hands after he slowed down to celebrate his win and got overtaken.  Tanguy Pepiot, a steeplechase runner for the University of Oregon, had a clear lead on his rival Meron Simon, who competes for the University of Washington but was passed in those final moments, as he already thought he had it in the bag.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

²⁴ Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! ²⁵ All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. ²⁶ So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. ²⁷ I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Hebrews 12

12 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. ³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. ⁴ After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall