Final Challenge
Final usually means it’s the last. There are no other exams in the class after the “final exam”. The word final can be connected with the word finish. When someone finishes something, they put their name on it or at least call it finished.
In our lives, we don’t always get to choose how we “finish” this life. We can choose how we live up to the end, hopefully. We can choose to be faithful to the Lord or we can choose to disobey the life He’s called us to live. I love the picture of King David, while on his death bed, giving a charge/challenge to his son Solomon. Check this out….
2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 Observe the requirements of the Lord your God and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. 4 If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ (1 Kings 2:2-4 NLT)
This had to be a tender moment. David’s mind seems to be as “clear as a bell”. He also tells Solomon about people that he should handle upon his death. David doesn’t seem to fear death. He seems to understand that Solomon needs encouragement and inspiration. This is also a Dad speaking to his son as well as the “passing of the leadership torch” from one king to the next.
I am doing my best to continue to speak into the lives of my grown children, because I don’t know which words will be my last. I try to remember to tell them I love them each time we end a phone conversation. I also love to embrace them when they arrive and when they leave. I want to be an example of “keeping the decrees, commands, regulations and the laws of the Lord as I live out my life here on earth. I don’t believe that this life is all there is. I believe in eternal life after this life. I believe I will be able to see King David one day in heaven – I suspect there will be a line to see him. I hope to thank him for his Psalms and his example of chasing the Lord’s heart. King David finished well with his charge to Solomon and he reminded me that I can be faithful and finish well too.
Pressing On!
Dwayne