Finishing Well

Finishing well has been a topic that has been on my mind as I slowly realize there are more years behind me than ahead of me now. Like a runner in a race, I want to finish my race well. Unfortunately, we have heard of many famous Christian preachers and authors who have fallen astray at the twilight of their careers. After a lifetime of serving God, they did not finish well. Some have repented and asked for forgiveness while others have just walked away. If they are truly repentant, I believe in Christ’s grace and forgiveness; however, there are consequences, especially to the believers who have read or listened to their sermons. While most people reading this are not famous preachers, many have been Christians for much of our lives and want to finish well. Nobody wants to serve God for years only to mess up at the end.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.                    1Cor 9:24-27

Paul compares serving and bringing others to Christ as a race that we are to run in such a way as to get that prize. Paul is not saying there is only one prize which we all must compete to win. Rather, he is saying we should all use maximum effort as if to win that prize and not be content to just participate. In order to be elite in anything, one must train hard and have self-control. This is especially true when bringing others to Christ. Paul also says he doesn’t run aimlessly or just beat the air. Instead, he kept his eyes on the goal with purpose. He did not allow himself to waste time and become lazy. We are to have purpose. Whether it’s to serve at church, missions, or share your faith with friends and family, find goals along your Christian journey so that you can have something to focus on and not get distracted or tempted by this world. We are running for our prize in Christ Jesus, train hard and finish well.