Christianity is for the underdogs.  It's for people who have the odds stacked against them.  Christianity is actually for everybody, of course, but only the underdogs ever receive it.  Being an underdog doesn't necessitate your participation in Christianity, but it increases your chances of accepting it.  If there's anything the prideful and self-sufficient never seem to need, after all, it's God.

If you want to know how it will feel when you've spent your life in dead-last place, the guy with 80:1 odds, or worse, only to come up from behind at the last minute and win, watch this:

If it's not about you anymore, and you've been humbled to the point of being truly driven to embrace Christ and follow Him wherever He leads, in spite of any and all discouragements and painful events, this is how it's going to end for you.  Be encouraged.  The race is almost over.  The home stretch is before us.  This is the time to strive toward the goal, to fight the devil to the end, and not falter, not slip, and not stray from the path.  This time, now, more than ever, is the time to cling to Christ in the midst of the suffering, of the heartache, of the exhaustion and sorrow, and press toward the finish line.  We're close.  And Christ is going to win.  He might look like the long shot to the world, but He will come up from behind at the very last minute and surprise everybody. 

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:14

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”  1 Corinthians 9:24

If you bet against Christ, you will lose spectacularly.  Your "sure thing" is not as sure as you think, and it is much more than vast sums of money you will lose.  If you put your faith in Him, get excited.  We're getting close.  The crowd is roaring.  The hooves are pounding.  We're not part-time spectators in this race, and we're not going out like whiners, or amateurs.  We're going out like warriors, and the victory will be grand, because our Trainer and Coach is the One who defeated death, and we will spend eternity in victory.

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”  2 Timothy 2:4

We're right around the corner.  Hard times will either drive you into the arms of God, or through the gates of hell.  Hold on.  Take heart.  The last shall be first.  God bless.

“But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.”  Matthew 19:30

"But many that are first shall be last; and the last first."  Mark 10:31

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”  Matthew 20:16

“And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”  Luke 13:30