
The year was 1949. CIA operative Douglas Mackiernan fled for the border of Tibet as Mao Tse-Sung’s communist army swept through China. Though the national boundary was a treacherous 1200 miles away, getting there was the only hope for survival. For seven months he endured the elements. First, he needed to cross the desert. Going without water for three days at one point left Doug and his companions nearly dead. A seeping spring saved their lives.
Next, Mackiernan faced the Himalayas in the dead of winter. While traversing the jagged terrain at 16,000 feet, the air was so thin and cold that speaking was simply too painful. Speaking only through hand signals, Doug and his comrades pressed on. The piercing winds threatened frostbite. Mounds of snow obscured the path. Losing his horse made the trek more difficult. But Mackiernan pressed on, never veering too far off the centuries old path marked by large piles of stone.
What were these mounds? They were above ground tombs for those who endeavored to make the arduous journey before. With the ground frozen solid beneath them, local residents did not attempt to dig graves. They simply pulled the deceased to one side of the trial and heaped piles of rocks over their bodies. These markers to the left and right of the path formed a natural map for those brave enough to keep pressing forward. Each grave was a visible reminder that despite your progress along the trail you could not let your guard down until you finished.
The same is true for Christians today. No matter how long we serve the Lord, how faithful we’ve been, or how much distance we’ve covered, we can never let our guard down until we get to heaven. Finishing the race of faith well is much more important than how we begin. As we age and mature in our walks with God our temptations may change, but they never go away. Remaining faithful to the Lord until the very end requires much discipline and intentionality.
For as long as I can remember the Old Testament character Gideon has fascinated me. Living during one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of Israel, some might refer to this unassuming man as a coward. The first time we meet him he is hiding in a winepress from Israel’s oppressors, the Midianites (Judges 6:11). Through a dramatic turn of events, God empowered Gideon to confront the false prophets of his nation and defeat the enemies’ army (Judges 6-8). His acts were heroic, and his humility was refreshing.
When it was all over, Gideon was so popular that his countrymen attempted to make him king over Israel (Judges 8:22). The honor was misguided, though, because at this point in their history God was the only King over His chosen people. Thankfully, Gideon resisted the opportunity, at least with his words (Judges 8:23). Forty years of peace ensued as the entire nation reaped the rewards of faithfulness.
I wish the story ended there. Yet, as a testimony of its veracity, the Bible reveals that that Gideon’s practice did not mirror his profession. He divided the spoils from war like a king (Judges 8:24-26). He took multiple wives and concubines for himself, just like a king (Judges 8:29-32). He even named his son Abimelech, which means my father is king (Judges 8:31). In other words, despite what he said, Gideon lived as if he was king in Israel. God’s faithful servant stumbled at the finish line and, consequently, led the nation back to the same apostacy he worked so hard to overcome (Judges 8:33).
Unfortunately, this biblical plot is often far more common than we care to admit. Do you remember Douglas Mackiernan? After seven months he finally made it to the Tibetan border. The week prior he radioed the US embassy requesting that they inform border guards of his arrival. When he was finally close enough to see the crossing between the two nations, Doug’s exhaustion turned to joy and he began running ferociously toward freedom. When he was only 100 yards away, tragedy struck as shots rang out.
Doug Mackiernan was hit, and he fell dead on the path. The guards never received his message, and they mistook him for a renegade bandit. Soon, they pulled his body to the side of trail and covered it with stones. The man who labored a lifetime for his country became another boundary on the path. His ending was a tragic warning for those that followed in search of freedom (Adapted from Steve Farrar, Gettin’ There, 118).
Chances are you have heard a similar story. Maybe about a man who lived with integrity for most of his life, until he didn’t. Or a woman who was the epitome of faithfulness, until she wasn’t. Stumbling at the finish line is so familiar that we all have examples to share of families ruined, relationships broken, lives scarred, and faith shattered. We know far too well the devastation that comes when we don’t finish well.
So, let’s learn from the mistakes of those who admonish us through their pain. You and I do not have to be another spiritual casualty in the kingdom of God if we will heed the warnings of those whose mistakes instruct us. The freedom we find in Christ will be worth the discipline finishing well requires.
Adam B. Dooley
March 27, 2025