Finshing Well

I did a message last Sunday on this topic and it got me thinking now easy it is to start in the faith but is much more difficult to continue in it. Like the parable of the sower Matthew 13:1-9 many receive the seed which represents the word of God but it either takes no root or if it does take root it withers up and dies quickly. Only a few of these seeds take solid root and grow into healthy plant life just as a small amount of believers grow into productive and faithful servants right to the end. People get sidetracked into the cares of this world,liberal theology or just neglect Bible reading and prayer and fall by the wayside. It is said that less than 1% of people who commit their lives to the Lord at a Billy Graham crusade become committed Christians for life. It makes wonder has the church failed in it's teaching or has a secular world blind many from the truth and have stirred others in the wrong direction.
There is the story of John Stephen Aquara a marthon runner from Tanzania who was injured in running a race in the 1968 Summer Olympics. Despite, he injuries which left him barely able to walk let alone run he continued in spite of having on chance to win. When asked why he continued he said" My country sent me here not to start the race but to finish it".
Are we here to start the race or finish it.