“Can’t Stop / Won’t Stop”
If you follow marathon races and notice Jacky Hunt-Broersma in the pack, you might think, “Didn’t I see her in last week’s marathon?” You would be partly right. In fact, Jacky believes she now holds the Guinness World Record for marathons run on consecutive days. In an Associated Press article published on April 29, 2022, she had just completed her 102nd marathon in 102 days. Her goal was to complete two more races before taking time off to rest. The article stated that she “can’t stop / won’t stop” until reaching her goal.
We’re impressed with the determination that drives such an accomplishment. Oh, and did I mention that Jacky had a leg amputated below the knee due to a rare cancer? Yes, she’s running on a blade, yet this 46-year-old has surpassed the previous record of 95 set in 2020 by a nondisabled runner. In the process she has also raised more than $27,000 to help other amputees afford similar blades which are typically not covered by insurance.
Just before writing this article, I became aware of a cousin who has similar determination. James Nolan recently ran the Boston Marathon for the 33rd consecutive year. He has been logging all of his runs since 1979 and has racked up over 95,000 miles in the process. It’s safe to say that he and I don’t share the running gene. All three of his children, however, are runners.
Running has been a sport for as long as people have populated the earth. Many in New Testament times were familiar with races in the ancient Olympic games and similar contests. Paul used the image in 1 Corinthians 9:24 to stress the need for seriousness in our Christian lives: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”
Paul continued with the image two verses later: “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). His point should be obvious: He took his Christian faith seriously. He wanted his readers to develop the same drive that would result in the “can’t stop / won’t stop” mentality.
Persistence in living the Christian life is also the theme of Hebrews 12:1. After noting outstanding examples of faith-driven people in chapter 11, the writer then gives this exhortation: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Enduring a long race is a challenge; what keeps a marathoner going? It’s the finish line, the ability to say, “I did it!” In our case the motivation is even higher: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
We’re not enduring for the same reason Jesus did; He alone is the Savior, and only He will occupy that exalted position at the right hand of the throne of God. But the prize for which we’re “running” is lofty: “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). If you and I have that “can’t stop / won’t stop” attitude in living faithfully for Christ, we’ll hear our names called with the message, “Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21). Let us therefore never stop running!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2022, Timothy D. Hall