I Shall be Perfected (Giungo al Termine della mia Corsa)

I was never much of a runner; at least not a very fast one. But late in my teens, I discovered something I was better at… running distance. I may have lacked speed but I did have some endurance. This is similar to how our Christian walk is. As we mature in Cristo we learn that this is not a sprint but more of a long distance marathon.

And not only is our walk like a marathon, it's also like an obstacle course. We see an example of this in the life of Christ.

In Luca 13:31 Jesus, Gesù, received a warning that Herod was out to kill him. (I'd say that qualifies as an obstacle.) But He didn't respond in fear. He knew that these "obstacles" were an unavoidable part of His mission. Gesù remained confident because He also knew that He had entered His final lap.

Today and tomorrow I cast out demons and heal, He said in versetto 32. And the third day I shall be perfected. But what did He mean when He said I shall be perfected?

In one sense it means that He was about to come into the fullness of His purpose; the reason why He came to earth in the first place.

But also, we see in the Italian translation an additional meaning. The last part of Luca 13:32 says giungo al termine della mia corsa. In other words, on the third day, I come to the end of my race. And what's at the end of every race? The finish line.

So yes the end was near, but this was not meant in a sad way. You have to come to the end, or the finish line, in order to receive the prize. (The trophy, if you will.)

Hebrews 12:2 teaches that Gesù endured the cross because of the joy (the prize) that was set before Him.

In Philippians 3:12 & 14 Paul declared, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on… toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

And one more, Paul also said in Acts 20:24, "…so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus…"

So coming to the end of a race is not to be a time of sadness but of joy. It's not an end in the sense that it's all over for you. It's just the end of one phase or season or level, and the beginning of a higher one.

So just as a professional runner finishes one particular race and it qualifies him to run in a higher level race… We also have to continuously run each race set before us; not as a sprint, but with patience and endurance. And no matter the obstacles, the end of each course or season will take us to the next level God has for us. Then one day giungeremo (we will come), al termine (to the end) of that final lap and cross that ultimate finish line.

And our prize?... When the Father, il Padre, says, Well done good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of the Lord.

Now that's what I call finishing our race… con la gioia! (with joy.)