Finish Strong
Just a few years ago, my son Luke ran cross-country and track. Running is largely an individual sport. He always ran against his own time. The pace was an important part of the entire race. I always saw some kids sprint out of the pack of runners at the beginning, but they were out of gas in no time at all. The runners who were well disciplined and consistent always came to the top prior to the finish line. I loved getting near that last mad dash to the finish to encourage and inspire Luke to push hard to get to the finish line.
My life is a lot like a race. I have to be disciplined. I have to prepare. It’s largely based on me and I have a lot of options available to me how I use my life. The Prophet Moses was about to die just prior to the people of Israel going into the Promised Land to take it for their own. The Lord takes him up to top of Mt. Nebo so that Moses can see the land they have been working toward. Check this out…
5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt – to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:5-12 NIV)
I don’t always consider my self an old man, but the days I have left are much shorter than the days that I’ve lived. I must confess that I think about the finish line quite a bit. I don’t want to be obsessed and paralyzed thinking about it, but I do want to live a steady and disciplined life all the way to the finish line. I hope I have some kick left when I’m on the home stretch.
I want each day that I have left to count for the Lord.
I want the choices that I make to honor Him.
I want to hear the Lord’s voice encouraging me on to the finish line.
I want to be like Paul and be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
I’m not looking for a certain time of the race – I’m looking for the Lord to greet me at the finish line and I’m looking for two words: “Well Done”!
Pressing On!
Dwayne