Go With ME
Embracing our Sacred Responsibility with Christ
The Heart of a Champion
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get
the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NIV)
It was back in the days when organized crime was rampant that this particular thoroughbred was born. He was
sired by a winner, and his pedigree was impeccable. And yet, he looked gangly and had a strange gait as a
youth. "This could be no winner," the experts declared. "He couldn't even be good breeding stock," they
asserted. It was a fair assessment, for he certainly didn't look the part. In fact, he was somewhat plain and had
warts on his face. Even so, one man believed the colt had something below the surface that no one could see.
The wise trainer felt that the horse had the heart of a champion, one which would one day distinguish this horse
from all others. The trainer took a chance and bought the colt for hardly anything. Even so, the amount was all
the trainer had been able to save all of his life.
It took time, effort, and work to help the colt grow stronger and faster. At times, it looked as if the horse was
being pushed too hard, and his heart would surely fail before his training was halted. But before damage to the
heart could occur, the horse would be given rest and food, and he grew stronger as each day passed. Such was
the life of trainer and horse alike for the many months to follow. Eventually, the horse was ready to run his
races, for the hard training had paid off.
The thoroughbred had now matured into a magnificent athlete. Still, he was unproven and physically bigger
than most horses. Skeptics continued their criticism based on his looks alone and declared he was too big and
would falter in long races. But as he would do all of his life, he proved them wrong and won one race after
another. "Something must be done about this freak!" the illegal bookies declared. "Because he is winning all
the time, he is altering our system. We can't predict a race in our favor." To even things out, they bribed track
officials to require more weight than normal be carried by the horse, hoping to slow him down. Still, he won
his races. Each race had even more weight added. But the big horse pushed through the pain of the long runs
and would somehow win. After many races won by the thoroughbred, the mob attempted to break his legs and
put him out of commission permanently, thinking that no horse could come back from such leg injuries. They
succeeded in inflicting great damage, and the skeptics said, "That will be all of it for him."
The trainer had made more money on the horse than he ever expected. In fact, he had money enough to buy
other horses and invest in their future, as he did with the horse who had been such a winner. So, he would be
alright financially. But he loved the big horse, and he knew his champion was not ready for green pastures. It
would kill the horse to remove him from racing when he still had a will to win and a strong heart beating within
him. So, the trainer and the horse began a comeback from the injuries, in hopes the horse would return to form.
Although the criminals succeeded in damaging the thoroughbred's legs, they had not been completely broken.
Still, the work of this evil against the horse had changed his gait, even though the legs had healed. He could
run, but it was obvious that something had changed in the horse. Each step was forced, labored and made in
pain. Still the horse ran the best he could.
The skeptics next declared, "He will never return. Send him to the glue factory!" They still didn't get it. They
could not see the will to win and the heart of a champion still beating within the wounded, damaged horse.
They could not understand how the odds could never predict what this hidden part in the animal would play in
his return to the track.
It was race day, and it was the biggest race of the year, when the damaged thoroughbred returned to compete.
The trainer had determined that this would be the last race for the beat-up horse. It was a sentimental gesture in
letting him run his final race. The odds were greatly against him. The gangsters didn't feel they had anything to
worry about, for the experts had convinced them the horse was through. Even so, they bribed the track officials
to place the greatest weight on the horse he had ever carried, just for safe measure. At the starting gate, the
older thoroughbred was different from the others. The other horses had the look of champions, with
competitive fire in their eyes and flaring nostrils, as they prepared for the start. The older horse looked straight
ahead, eyes glued to the track. It was apparent he had only one thought, which was to run his race and not
waiver, giving it the best he could.
"And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is
trustworthy." Hebrews 10:23 - (NEV)
The gates opened and the race began. The other horses charged out of the gates, mostly moving wildly back
and forth as their jockeys tried to keep them on course and establish a pace. The older horse was at the rear, but
his path was straight and true. His effort was to not just make a show of it, but to run the race all the way
through the finish line, as straight as he could. His jockey knew it was a waste of time to be riding a race on the
beat-up mount, so he let the horse dictate the pace and the path. He simply hoped the horse would not fall in the
process.
It was halfway through the race when the older horse began to slowly move from the rear and through the pack
of other horses. All observers were amazed that he had kept up as long as he did, for it was obvious the horse
was laboring. Going into the last turn on the track, the older horse began his charge to catch the leaders. It was
an impossible endeavor. Everyone knew it was a valiant effort, but there would be no way the horse could
catch them. After all, the odds were against him, not to mention the unfair weights placed on his back.
The jockey began to realize something was going on in his horse that no one could understand, unless they
could sense the determination that ran beneath him. The horse began to bear down with all his might, for he
would not be denied his race to the finish line. Therefore, the jockey gave him loose reins. The horse had only
one objective, which was to run and win the race, and no amount of weight placed on him or evil done to him
would keep him from his final dash to the finish line.
The horse caught up with the leaders, and it was now a neck to neck race to the finish line. It would be a close
finish, for now only two horses closed to the line. One horse was the odds-on favorite. The other was the least
expected to finish, much less win the race. But there he was. The old damaged and cheated racehorse was
giving it his best to finish his race.
What makes a champion race horse defy the odds, when everything is stacked against him? We could also ask,
what makes a Christian man continue to run his race when he has been beaten down by the world, the flesh and
the devil? You see, it is in the last moments of a race, when legs are weary, breathing labored and
determination wavering in a horse, that there is only one thing that will make the difference. With a man it is
the same. He must run his race through discouragements, unfair treatment, and an evil enemy army that is
trying to hurt him, just like the mob did to the thoroughbred. It is true that a champion man is like a champion
horse in that it is not the obvious strengths, or the odds going for them, that makes the difference. It is the
unseen, and often overlooked quality, that beats within a man and beast alike. With a horse it his heart and
desire to win that will cause him to run the race to the finish line and claim the victory. With a man, it is the
will to persist and the ability to find a strength hidden within his faith and character. This is what causes him to
refuse defeat as an option.
The old thoroughbred took every challenge thrown at him and ran his race the best he could to the finish line.
Was it good enough? Well, the odds makers would say no. But the heart of a champion never listens to the
odds, which was the case for the old racehorse as he ran through the finish line and won his final race. For the
horse, rest and green pastures were now ahead for him, almost like heaven is for God's Champion when he
gives it all he's got and finishes his life race.
Men, we are all God's champions in the making. There beats within us a champion's "heart" wanting to come
out and prove who we are by running a winning life race for our King. Some of you may be in the training
stage that prepares you and your "heart" for a new race ahead. It's tough work to be trained by the Holy Spirit
for such a race. But let your heavenly Trainer have His way with you, as He prepares you for winning those
races. Some of us are in the last turn in our race to the finish line, and it is His training that has prepared us for
this time in our life. It very well could be our finest hour. Either way, it will never be the odds that will be for
us or against us that determine how we finish our race. Rather, it is the assurance of God's unfailing love that
makes us want to keep running. It is the word of God that gives us a straight course and guides us in our race.
And it is the heart of a Champion that does not allow us to swerve or waiver or give up, when the going gets
tough. It is the Champion's heart that will cause us to run our race, against all obstacles, on our way to our
finish line. This is why God is at work in each of us right now, and in His own way, He is preparing us to run a
strong race so we can claim this prize. He is making a Champion out of us. So, don't be discouraged when His
training seems too hard. Let Him have His way, for you are being trained for a special purpose. Remember:
The world desperately needs Christian Champions, and we are being raised up to make a difference in this
world. So, stay strong in your trust in your Trainer and stay connected to the Vine. It is in this special place
that the heart of a Champion is formed. It is here you will become the man you long to be.
To that end and to our King's great glory we run our race,
Rocky