Where we place the finish line matters.
For we naturally pace ourselves.
In a marathon, we maintain a slow but steady pace, knowing the goal is distant. In a sprint, we abandon endurance for short-term power. Our approach aligns with our target.
When Kennedy said we were going to the Moon, the goal wasn’t merely launching a rocket. The finish line was landing on the Moon AND bringing the crew home alive. That audacious target forced NASA to push boundaries and innovate like never before. If the goal had been smaller, we’d probably still be celebrating satellites. Instead, we aimed for the impossible—and got there. Where we set the finish line changes everything.
And this principle extends to professional sports and even our careers. Some folks just wanted to make it in the door - simply getting there was the goal they had set for themselves - and so we see them stall at the next level. Others view admission as a starting line, not an end goal. Achieving a new height propels them to increase their effort, preparation, and commitment, striving to master the next level.
How are they able to do so? They understand and embrace the concept of delayed gratification.
“Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home.”
This passage from Hebrews isn’t just an encouragement; it’s the apex of what it means to live by faith. These people believed in promises they couldn’t yet hold, trusting in something beyond their own lifetimes.
When I think about the doubts or trivial frustrations that challenge my own faith, their example puts things in perspective. They carried on, faithful to the end, regardless of circumstances. That’s impressive and it makes me reconsider what I am chasing. What do I actually believe about the promises of God? And at its core, it causes me to recall that faith isn’t about instant gratification or clarity, but perseverance - keeping our eyes on the bigger picture, trusting in a plan that might not unfold on our timeline - even when it seems distant.
These believers lived for something beyond their present, making their faith evident to all around them. Maybe we could learn something from their example and check our own perspectives.