The home stretch. The words bring to mind the final part of a journey, a race, or the last stage of a difficult activity. The home stretch is where effort and preparation meet. Going down the home stretch reveals character, discipline and intentionality…or not. The home stretch is not casual or passive. Look around the world in 2026, look in the mirror. We’re all heading down the home stretch.
The phrase ‘home stretch’ originated in horse racing where the horse makes the final turn and can see the finish line. Major league baseball teams are in the home stretch of their season to crown a champion. Students are in the home stretch of this semester. Politicians are eyeing the mid term elections and making final appeals to the voters. It looks like France is in the home stretch of civil society. The world is watching as French people, architecture and ideas burn to the ground. As a nation, France is going down the home stretch in a journey that started long ago.
You can easily make a case the world is in the home stretch. Jews, Muslims and Christians alike believe we are living in the home stretch before their Savior or last Imam takes center stage. Many nations and forms of government look like they are heading to a finish line. Republics and democratic nations are under attack. Is this the home stretch for democracy?
The largest city in America is now governed by the same belief system that attacked and tried to destroy her 25 years ago. To many, it looks like we’ve turned the last corner and the finish line is in sight. Aside from politics, look in the mirror and read the Bible to be reminded what the home stretch looks like.
The home stretch is where every ONE and every THING is tested and revealed for what they are made of. Football players hold up 4 fingers to remind each other 3/4ths of the competition is completed. The world wants you to believe the home stretch is called retirement. Retirement is more like a 7th inning stretch where you briefly stand up only to sit back down, get comfortable and be a spectator. The Bible teaches the home stretch is a time to stay focused on the finish line, not to quit.
The Bible is a guide and reminder for the home stretch. Horses only race a few years. Athletes compete in limited careers. Empires rise and fall. Look around at the scoreboard, the clock, the obstacles facing you AND the world in this home stretch….and have hope.
Don’t get discouraged, be quiet or sit down and put your feet up to rest. The Bible reminds us, ‘…we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.’ ……Run hard in the home stretch, but run smart, be wise. Learn what God teaches us in His Word.
Recognized as the most wealthy and wise man to have ever lived, Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes down the home stretch of his life. From a worldly perspective Solomon was successful beyond all imagination. Many would say Solomon is the role model because he lived for and obtained great knowledge, wealth, power and fame. Ecclesiastes is the opus of his most successful life and career. But it reads differently than you might think.
Read Ecclesiastes and you’ll hear bitterness and disappointment from a disillusioned man as he reflected going down the home stretch. Right before he crossed the finish line Solomon summed it up… “..The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to it’s hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.” Solomon learned everything in life apart from God is meaningless.
I have made the last turn in my life and I’m heading down the home stretch. I look around at the field and see those ahead of me, beside me and remember those in my past. I have tried to learn from those who have been and are in the home stretch with me. Everyone seems to be running their race in different ways towards different conclusions. I have decided, the finish line in my life is an ambition. A great ambition not defined by wealth or accomplishments but revealed to me in the Bible.
Another historical figure in the Bible speaks loudly to me. Peter was a man after my own heart. Peter lived passionately with zeal and fervor for God, succeeding one minute and failing miserably the next. Regretfully, I can relate. In the home stretch of Peter’s life he wrote about the finish line. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ” That sounds like the finish line God desires for me.
For my home stretch I’ll focus on holiness. To keep such a bold finish line attainable, I’ll focus on becoming holy by trying to control my words and my mouth. Words can align me with God or throw me off course. My speech can help me stay focused down the home stretch. So far, the results are mixed but the race is marked out for me.
I want to encourage, not discourage. I want to build up not tear down. This doesn’t mean being nice, non-confrontational, weak or quiet when truth is given a back seat to evil, dishonesty and deceptive lies. Will I win this race? Time will tell and I’m sure others will judge me. But I WILL cross the finish line where the final judge is waiting.
Holiness is my great ambition and better use of my words is the mark set before me. I am promised a helper in this home stretch. My help will come from family and friends, strangers, Christ followers and agnostics, Democrats and Republicans, all nationalities and races, old friends and hopefully new friends as well….and the Holy Spirit.
Remembering that ‘God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing..’,…..I encourage YOU in your home stretch. Let’s cross the finish line not listening for applause or accolades in a lengthy obituary, but a still quiet voice saying… ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’
What does your home stretch look like? I’d love to know.