The Last Man Running...


His chest was rising and falling, just like violent tides on a hot beach in mid-summer. He could not help it. He was a trained runner. The sweat was pouring, but he could not feel it running down his skin. The only sensation he could feel was that of his leg muscles. They were the most active muscles right now. He ran down the curve of the tracks. The others were ahead of him now...oh, such a disappointment! Why did he have to sprain his ankle almost at the end of the race? He had trained for this one race the entire year...minute after minute, day after day...night after night. He had climbed ropes, swam in rivers, waded in mud...just for this very moment in history.

But he kept running. He was the last runner. But he did not dare stop.

He suddenly felt a chaotic noise. But he kept running. The noise was from the heavy applause of his witnesses, cheering him on like he had no tomorrow. Bidding his lungs to keep breathing. Telling him to reach the finish line. So he kept moving, unmoved by his own emotions. He kept swimming, in a sea of his own breathlessness. He kept climbing the ropes of his own hopelessness. He kept wading, in the mud of his own thoughts. But he kept running...he didn't stop.

He was the last man running...
.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As 2008 draws to an end, the clock cannot stop ticking. A new dawn surely must come, a new light. 2009 surely must knock on our doors. There's no holding back tomorrow. So also, many of you are still running. You've just got three more days, and that's it! But I want to talk to the last man running. You, who is still training your athletic muscles. You there, who is still waiting for that last wish to come true. You, whose vision has not yet been materialized. Yes, you...the last man running. Yes, you...everyone has gone ahead of you. Some have even begun 2009, but you are here...in this very moment...captured in the last few days of 2008.

Oh, I want to tell you not to stop running. A true runner never stops. It does not matter whether the first man has crossed the ropes, he has to keep going. He still has to reach the finish line. So I want to tell you today that in three days, you will reach the final destination. Please, don't stop now...oh no, please don't. You've got three more days to run. Keep running, don't stop. Keep praying, don't stop. Keep exercising your spiritual muscles in these last few days of 2008. Withstand the enemy in your body, in your mind. It cannot be over yet, until it is over. Don't claim defeat when that was not the original plan. You, yes you...are a winner. By all means, if you don't stop running, then you are a winner. God is filled with crazy surprises.

"But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Matthew 19:30

Photo from the Kanakuk Colorado blog

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another nice one.. Need to remind ourselves that the "race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong..."

Nodding very stronly at the "It cannot be over until it is over" part... Need to remind myself about that....

downtheaisle said...

This is a good one, very inspirational. Thank you for this words, "Its truly not over until I win". God bless u!

Robyn.K.Y said...

you inspire me alot,i was having a slow day reading this made me smile.Thanks.Hey i

Robyn.K.Y said...

hey have a Happy,blessing filled new year

Zoe Believer said...

Amen, I will keep running. This confirms what I heard in church yesterday. Lord, I hear you. I thank God for you Jaycee, I'm sure you will never know the real impact the words on this page have but I pray that God keeps blessing and using you in the Kingdom. Happy New Year in advance.

olusimeon said...

thanks so much.....it ain't ova until i win.............peace

aloted said...

i will not give up!

thanks for this

Kémi Penélopê said...

U have been an inspiration to a lot of readers of Ur Blogazine...Lives have been changed and Hope has been born anew in the minds of many. Now walk into 2009 knowing that U will do even more...

Zayzee said...

that's right. the race is definitely not to the fastest.

~Sirius~ said...

Definitely getting to the finish line.....It's not over until I sing! (Not the fat lady this time)

Writefreak said...

My God, Jaycee! Your posts are usually a blessing but with this one, you spoke to ME...i have a situation that should have been resolved this year, but hasn't and i was about throwing in the towel but now thank God and you for this post...

i will keep running, praying, believing.....till my change comes...thank you

Toluwa said...

cant and wont give up!

Vera Ezimora said...

Jaycee, this is beautiful as usual. I will keep running. I have to keep running. To give up now is to waste all the miles I have run. So I won't give up. Thanks, love.

Happy New Year.

Remi, United Kingdom said...

yaaay.... Jaycee.. you are right, we always seem to be on the same plane! lol! Well the spirit is one! Wow.

Yes, we cannot stop running oh, it is not over until it is over. one second to midnight is enough for God to perform that which we have petitioned him since January 1 2008. I encourage us all to fling open the gates to our hearts, infact break the gates! The good we ordred from January, are about to be delivered, and we need to make sure the truck / lorry can drive through and deposit the goods there - there heart is where the issues of life flows (both in and out)! I encourage us to increase our expectations and anticipation. less than 3 days is more than enough for God to manifest his perfect glory in our lives.

Jaycee oh.. never stop writing :-))
Much love

Afrobabe said...

Good one....I may not be the last man running this year but I am definately just a step ahead of him so I can relate....

Happy New year babes...

The Activist said...

It's sure not over yet. to Let me get my 2009 resolutions sharp sharp. I will keep running... I wont stop until I run to Glory

doug said...

Like Churchill put it: 'Never ever ever ever give up'. Thanks a lot for another inspiring, and perfectly timed post

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! though a new dawn is in view never leave unfinished the present.

Buttercup said...

amen...oh yea, God does have crazy surprises!

im still running..2 more days now!

happy holidays.1

Afrobabe said...

Happy new year love...

Eyin'ju Oluwa said...

Happy New Year babe!!!

Dojaa said...

Happy New Year.

adebanji said...

Al UTA CONTINUA- We shall not give up, we are here and here to keep moving! Happy 2009!

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year to ya, Jaycee!

Here's to another wind...from outta no where...filling our lungs from the bottom up :)!

ShonaVixen said...

won't give up!!thanks for this post hon

Parakeet said...

Happy new year Jaycee...may be you continue to be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Kafo said...

amen ooooooooooooooooo
may we all finish the race regardless of our perceived place

happy new year

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

Happy New Year Jaycee. Thanks for providing inspiring words in 2008.

O'Dee said...

Happy new year deariee.
wishing you Gids blessings in this year.

'Yar Mama said...

Happy New Year.

Jennifer A. said...

Happy NEW YEAR everyone

I must have had a crazily fantastic celebration as I did not get to check all these wonderful messages on New years day. May God be connected to you guys on an even DEEPER level this year. That's my prayer for everyone, and also for myself.

We really don't need anything BUT Jesus, because when we've got God...we have EVERY THING.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year beautiful JayCee

tobenna said...

Beautiful piece Jaycee.
Burriful

Unknown said...

I'm the last man running...(Almost typed "standing" Lol)

You couldn't have said it better Jaycee.

Happy New Year.

Mimi said...

ok so I'm back to proper comment :) when Iread your note all I could do was say that line :) because like a mutual friend of ours say 'wink wink' :) 'you and JayCee are like twins!'

Because this is how I feel and you have just taken the words right out of my heart and put them on your blog and couldn't have been done by any other person than you especially with the gift God has given you :)This thing you are doing faithfully is going to be much more than you even realize it right now... That is a decree.

Love you!

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