Cheered for the Finish (Part Two)
“So cheer each other up with the hope you have. Build each other up. In fact, that's what you are doing.” (NIRV) 1 Thessalonians 5:11
In our previous devotion, we discussed the importance of cheers as motivators, confidence boosters, and sources of encouragement. However, even well-intentioned cheers can sometimes mislead us, causing us to lose focus or to prematurely celebrate before reaching our true destination.
To recap, in the 2012 cross-country race in Spain, Kenyan runner Abel Mutai and Spanish runner Iván Fernández Anaya were competing for the win. Near the finish line, Abel mistakenly believed he had already crossed the finish line and slowed down. Misled by the cheers of the crowd, he thought the race was over. How often do we find ourselves similarly misled by loud cheers, even when those cheering mean no harm.
If we truly desire to cheer to the finish, we must be discerning about which cheers we listen to. The voice of the people—even well-meaning people—is not necessarily the voice of God (Exodus 23:2; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 12:2; Galatians 1:10).
Thankfully, in a remarkable act of sportsmanship, Spanish runner Iván Fernández Anaya chose not to capitalize on Mutai’s mistake. Instead, he helped guide Mutai to the true finish line. But God does even more for us, patiently offering second chances to do better (2 Peter 3:8-10). We are also reminded that God’s ways are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9), and His guidance is essential for reaching our true destination (Psalm 37:23-24).
May we find true cheers that neither betray us nor rob us of the eternal treasure that cannot be taken away. May we be found worthy to exclaim, “I am cheered for the finish.” Even so, help us, Lord. Amen.