FINISH STRONG!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” 2 Timothy 2:7-8

The time was around AD 67, when the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting his execution. He knew that the time of his departure from planet earth was coming . . . and he was so excited to meet the Lord in glory. You see, Paul had lived his Christian life sold out to Jesus. He was not perfect, but he definitely was not lukewarm either. He finished the race in full stride, still on fire for Jesus Christ.

WHEN YOU MEET THE LORD

All too often, people face death without the humble confidence and joyful expectation that Paul had. So many people face death with regret and shame, knowing that they wasted much of their life pursuing money and things and pleasure and stuff . . . and did not really seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33).

I’ve been with many people over the years during the final days of their lives. As I stood by their bedside with their families awaiting the inevitable, I’ve yet to hear anyone facing death regret not making more money, having a bigger home, spending more time at the office, or never getting to go on a trip to see some place they never got around to seeing . . . No, the only regrets I’ve ever heard during those final days have been about not spending more time with family, not being involved more in their church and serving the Lord, or just regretting they waited till then to get serious about their relationship with the Lord and being right with Him. Now, don’t take me wrong, it’s always been such a blessing to witness someone turn to the Lord at the end of their life. My question today is, why wait? Why not get back on track now and finish string?

YOU CAN FINISH LIKE PAUL!

We preachers are known for saying, “Get right with God. You may die!” It is far better to say, “Get right with God. You may live!” The greatest joy in life is living for Jesus. Why waste more time? There’s a life to live! Friend, the best thing you can say about a life lived without Christ or away from Christ is that it’s a wasted life. Evangelist Billy Sunday said repenting and accepting Christ on your deathbed is “burning the candle of life for the devil, and then blowing the smoke in God’s face.” Don’t choose to live and die like that!

FOLLOW PAUL’S PATH

Paul knew he would have to give an account of His life to the Lord one day. He knew that it paid to serve Jesus… and that kept him faithful to the end, even when times were tough and he wanted to finish strong. And no matter where you are today in your spiritual life, “it ain’t over till it’s over.” If you still have breath, you still have time to turn it around for Christ. Maybe you have fallen on the track and not gotten back up . . . or maybe you have said the fight is too hard and have left the ring. The Lord’s hand is outstretched to you. He says, “I know you have blown it… but I am not through with you yet. My grace is sufficient for you. Take my hand… get back in the race… and finish strong!”

I heard this little poem from my pastor right after I was saved and I still have it in my first Bible where I wrote it down. This quote has been etched in my mind for 40 plus years now . . . “Only one life ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last” (CT Studd). 

Will you make it your life’s ambition to finish strong so that when the time for your departure comes, you too can have confidence when you meet Jesus in glory?

Think it over…

Doug Pierce is a Church planter and a pastor. In 2003 he started, and continues to pastor First Independent Methodist Church in Madison, Mississippi. His #1 priority is to glorify God in all aspects of ministry. He does this through teaching his congregation to Love God, Love One Another, and Love Others to God. Prayer, outreach, and church growth through evangelism are vital parts of his ministry. He and his wife Suzanne live in Madison, Mississippi where they also enjoy their children and grandchildren.

To find out more about Doug‘s ministry visit the FIMC Website

Feature Image by wisconsinpictures