4th June, 2019
BY-AND-BY
David Abankwah
READ: Hebrews 12:1-3
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
-Romans 8:18 | KJV
Once upon a time in the animal kingdom, there used to be a marathon which was organised every year by the lion – the king of the jungle. Deer, rabbit, rat and the likes were noted to be first class speedsters. In their rooms were loaded all kinds of accolades as the best athletes in town. Anytime they embarked on this race, they left tortoise behind. Everyone casted him aside for being too slow and because of that, he never participated in any race at all. But one day, tortoise sat down and said, ‘What legacy am I leaving for my children? I have not done anything worthy for my kids to be proud of me.’
‘Everyone casts me aside for being too slow but that was how I was created and I cannot do anytime about it. But, if I can’t change the way I was created, I can captilise on this weakness and work out the good I can. I will not rest in the shadows all the time. The fact that I am slow in speed doesn’t mean I am good for nothing. Because of what everyone thinks of me, I will rise up above this suffering of humiliation and turn the tables. I will join this race and if I am last I will be proud of myself that at least I participated, and if by chance I am the first, I will forever be remembered in history.’
Tortoise joined the race. The best speedsters were also present. At the sound of the start, they had all left tortoise. Tortoise had at the back of his mind that, by-and-by, even though I am the slowest, I will finish this race. Because the participants knew tortoise was the slowest, they all ganged up to lower their pace of running and have fun about this poor creature. They all decided to stay in the middle of the road and wait for tortoise so that they can have fun about his slowness. They waited and waited, he was not coming. Then as they were all tired of waiting, they began to sleep. Tortoise gradually gathered momentum and bypassed all of them.
By the time they realised, tortoise had already finished the race first. Tortoise was crowned as the champion and the necessary accolade was awarded. Tortoise then said, ‘Even though I am slow, I am sure.’ There is a glory that is waiting to be revealed unto us and the prize of crown we will receive from God. There will be many present situations that we need to face as we begin the race of eternal life. There will be sufferings as we race also, but we must run with all our hearts out and win the race at all cost. It may tarry, we may be slow but we must be sure to win the crown of life.
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David Abankwah 