One thing I have realized as I write this is that nearly everyone I talk to WANTS to finish well, but really don't know HOW to accomplish it. How do I finish well? How do I come to the end of my life with celebration, and not regret? How do I live in such a way today so that I will finish well?
Our culture imposes so much on our lives that it's often hard to get a correct compass setting for our destination. It's hard to stop long enough to look at where I am, where I want to go and how to get there. We are moving so fast....not sure of our direction...but we can't stop long enough to ask, "where AM I going?"
In the next series of posts I would like to look at the secrets of finishing well from the bible. I will keep each post brief, adding scripture to help you, and when we are done you will have a guide book for the journey ahead. Are you ready?
Secret #1-Keep you eyes on the goal
The great challenge of any journey is the goal. Where are you going? If you don't have a destination, then how will you know when you have arrived? The first secret of finishing well is Keep your eye on the goal. Here's how the bible describes it;
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
The goal for us is not a mountain top, it is Christ himself. As this passage describes he has finished his race and won. The goal is to be like Christ, to finish this life having run our race with endurance. The writing of this sounds so much like Paul. He used this kind of language in his own description of the Christian life. He said;
1Co 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
And he continues in the description of his own life;
1Co 9:25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Co 9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
1Co 9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
Keep your eye on the goal. How do I do that? For me it's done with a daily focus on Christ himself. For me, in some part of my reading each day, I am always in one of the gospels. Every day I am watching and following Jesus.....I'm keeping my eye on the goal- to be like Christ himself.
Paul describes the goal in a very interesting way in Ephesians when he writes;
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
Eph 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Eph 5:3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
Eph 5:4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Eph 5:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Paul is clear here, the goal....the mountain peak I am reaching toward....is being like Christ himself in my life and lifestyle....."trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord." Now, I have to warn you that it can't be done by my best efforts....there is more to this than just a focus on the goal, and we will talk about that later, but for today what I want you to see is that secret #1 starts our odyssey with the goal in sight.....you can't get there unless you know where there is.
Secret #1-Keep you eyes on Christ.
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