Finishing Well

Introductory Comments

As believers and followers of Christ, we are in a racedescribed by the Apostle Paul ashe was approaching the end of his life and ministry. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all that have loved His appearing”(II Timothy 4:7-8, NKJV). Are we, as followers of Christ, of the same mind as Paul? Do we even give much or any thought to how we are running the race? Are we running so we will finish well? At times I wonder! What should we be running from, and what should we be running toward? We should be running from sin and ungodliness and toward righteousness and good works. While running we have the blessed hope and constant expectation that Jesus will suddenly appear, catch us away, and take us across the finish line (I Thessalonians 4:15-16).

Looking around, I see that many of my fellow believers are in their autumn years, approaching the ends of their lives, but with seemingly little or no fruit or ministry. Regardless of your age, this life is fragile and short, like a speck of time in eternity, and it can end unexpectedly at almost any time. Also, many good Bible scholars and I believe we are living in the very end of the last days. The coming of Christ to rapture (catch away) the saints seems to be imminent. It could occur any time. Thus, whether we leave this life by death or the coming of Christ, little time remains to finish our race. But, can you and I really say, “I have fought the good fight” and “I have kept the faith”? Are we being fruitful for our Lord? Are we finishing the race well?

Although the Apostle Paul was a chosen servant of our Lord, we should not think that God can not yet accomplish great and wonderful things in our lives for His kingdom. As a young teenager, I remember the words on a plaque that hung on the wall of my mother’s kitchen. It said, “One life will soon be past, but only what’s done for Christ will last.” Let’s examine our lives. Have we done much that will really last and be as “precious stones” instead of “hay, wood, and stubble” when tried by fire? Will we finish this race well, in the sight of our Lord? Have the cares of this life and the enemy lulled us into complacency?

The writer to the Hebrews, perhaps the Apostle Paul again, said, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”(Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV).

Could it be that God allows our parents, brothers, sisters, and friends who are already with Him to actually observe how we are running this race? If so, do you think they are happy in seeing how werun and what weare doing for the Lord? Are we running with endurance? Are we up and down in our spiritual lives and in the fever of our service to the Lord? Are webriefly hot, but then lukewarm and cold? Do the weights and cares of this life detract and ensnare us? Are we still focused on the narrow road that Jesus said we must follow, or are we drifting toward the broad road that leads to destruction?

Like the proverbial frog, satan can lure us to sleep in our cozy styles of life. Then, before long, we are spiritually inactive boiling without feeling and concern in the pot of indifference, just as satan wants it. Could it be that some of us aren’t running at all, but just barely walking in this race. Perhaps others among us are just sitting on the sidelines. They wear a runners badge that all can see when they come to church, but when theygo home and engage in routine activities, there is nothing done for Christ, nothing of eternal importance!

It is easy to get caught up with our jobs and the day to day activities necessary for life. Also, there are things we like to do. We enjoy watching TV, listening to music, and reading papers, magazines and books. We like to shop, travel, engage in various hobbies and sports, surf the internet, send and receive e-mails, visit friends and relatives, and a host of other things. Without care and being insensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, these things can consume all our waking hours. Some activitiescan subtly lead us into sin. We can find ourselves guilty of both sins of commission as well assins of omission.

Would you truly like to spend the remaining time of your life really engaged in running this race well; i.e., running to win? You can look at it like an investment in which treasures are laid up in heaven. When you depart this life you can not take any material thing with you. Have you ever seen a hearse towing a U-Haul trailer containing valuable possessions of the deceased? Of course not! However, there are some things you can take to heaven with you. Why not invest in these things. They are the souls of friends, loved ones, and others you help win to Christ. Also, your knowledge of God’s Word and your works of righteousness will go with you. Although your good works do not save you, they will follow you to the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10). The Lord will take note of all of them, especially those done without self glory andwhen no one was looking.

Being What God Wants Us to Be

To run and finish this race well there are a number of things we can do, but first of all we must BE what the Lord wants us to be. The Lord is more interested in what we are than what we are doing or have done! He wants us to be livingholy, righteous, sanctified lives, set apart from this world (I Thessalonians 4:3,4,7; Hebrews 12:14;13:12). He wants spiritual intimacy with us individually. I doubt that we can attain perfection in this life, but we ought to pursue it with all our hearts (Matthew 5:48). Sins should be quickly recognized and confessed to the Lord with Godly sorrow for repentance and forgiveness. The conviction from the Holy Spirit helps us do this.

Also, we are to be filled with the Spirit(Ephesians 5:18). We can and should constantly walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25) and be led by the Spirit. Our walks with the Lord should be such that the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are evident in our lives. Give special attention to love, for the other fruits are rooted in love. The ungodly will even take note! The gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:1-11)should operate in our lives individually as the Spirit works them for the benefit of all of us.

As we run this race we are to be the Lord’s ambassadors representing the kingdom of Godto this lost and dying world. We must study and know His Word, rightly dividing it. We should be very conscious that we are in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-18) with satan’s kingdom of darkness. We ought to be familiar with his lying and deceptive tactics, and we should know how to use the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God – Ephesians 5:17). We can exercise our authority in Christ to overcome satan, bind evil spirits, and tear down the works of darkness.

You might think that becomingwhat the Lord wants us to be sounds good but istoo difficult to achieve. If it were, God would not call for it in His Word. The Lord desires thesequalities in our lives. The Holy Spirit will help us develop them.

How can we move toward becoming what He wants us to be? Let’s look at what the Word of God tells us.

We, of course, must first be truly “born again,” as Jesus said to Nicodemus (John 3:1-8). Since this writing is directed to believers, I trust that you have already experienced the new birth. If not, talk to a minister oranother person who is strong in the Lord. Just saying a sinner’s prayer will not save you! You must genuinely repent of sin and place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation.

Following salvation, we mustactively and earnestly seek to grow in the Lord, giving ourselves completely to Him to work in our hearts and lives. The Apostle Paul provides us with important instructions. He says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2, KJV).

By acts of our wills we can individually pray and tell the Lord that we present our bodies and our lives as living sacrifices to Him,trusting Him to make us holy and acceptable to Him. You can start this process by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to search your heart and bring to mind your spiritual shortcomings and things for which you need to repent. You might need to change some of your daily habits and alter some of your schedules. Stay away from people and things that can lead you the wrong way. Shun all appearances of evil. Surrender your life afresh, once again, completely to the Lord. Make Him really the Lord of your life! Be one of his faithful children and servants.

Doing What the Lord Wants Us to Do

What should we be doing as we run this race? There are many of things that you can do as works of righteousness. Not only does the Lord expect you to be doing these things, but doing them will also help you to be more like He wants you to be.

  1. You should read, study, and meditate regularly on the Word of God. It is best to make this a daily habit. Spend unhurried time in the Word so the Lord can speak to you through it. Many Christians take notes and mark scriptures in their Bibles. In his second letter to TimothyPaul said,“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”

(II Timothy 2:15, KJV). The Psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105 KJV). Also, he said, “Thy word have I hid inmine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11 KJV). There are manyadditional admonitions in the Bible for us to study God’s Word. There is a very basic reason why we should study the Word of God. Let’s consider what it is.

There is only one body of truth. It is universal and contained in God’s Word This body of knowledge we call truth transcends all opinions, all viewpoints, all claims, all cultures, all ideologies, and all other bodies of knowledge. God is the source of truth and it transcends the claims of all religions. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is described in John 1:14 as being “full of grace and truth” and in verse 17 as the source of “grace and truth”. Additionally, Jesus said, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

When there are others in your home, find time to read the Bible together. Let each person be involved in reading the word. Afterwards, spend some time for discussion and dealing with questions. Also, I highly recommend that you memorize various scriptures. As you interact with the lost, share and encourage others in the faith, and fight the devil you will be able to quote God’s Word. Jesus quoted scriptures to the devil when he tempted Him in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). You, too, need to be ready at all times to use the sword of the Spirit against the evil spirits of darkness. Memorizing the Word helps!

  1. You should make genuine, sincere prayera regular part of your life. Pray at least twice daily, morning and evening. Jesus made it a habit to get alone to commune with the Father. In Matthew 6:9-11, Jesus told us how to pray in what we call the “Lord’s Prayer.” This pattern of praying can be applied to other prayers by recognizing God as our Father, giving Him praise and honor, making our supplications to Him, and closing by acknowledging His eternal kingdom, power, and glory.

Periods of prayer give opportunity for confession and repentance of sins and attitudes not pleasing to the Lord. Your needs and the needs of others can be lifted up to the Lord. You can pray and intercede for the lost (see “A Spiritual Warfare Prayer for the Salvation of a People on a List”). When there are others in your home, come together in prayer daily. Share prayer requests and answers to prayer before praying. A good practice is to follow the reading of the Bible with prayer.

Have you ever given much thought to the power of prayer and what a privilege it is? To get an audience with a high ranking person, such as your governor, the president, or some famous person, would require an appointment, and that in itself could be difficult to get. However, the God and creator of the earth and the entire universe, with all its stars and galaxies,has issued an open invitation for you and me to come into His presence at any time by means of prayer. Through the prophet Jeremiah God said, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3, NKJV). His ears are open to the cry of the righteous. Paul said that the Lord “…is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20, KJV). Also, we know that with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). In Philippians 4:6&7, Paul said that we should not worry about anything, but make our requests known to God and His peace will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I believe prayer is one of our most wonderful yet most neglected privileges. Also, I have found that there are occasions and situations when we need to couple fasting to our prayers. Jesus told His disciples that casting out demons will at times require both prayer and fasting(Matthew 17:21).

  1. You should actively reach out to help others and to win the lost. This is a very important part of finishing the race well and obeying our Lord’s Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Some ways to reach out and help others are as follows.
  2. Praying and interceding for your lost friends and loved ones. You can use the spiritual warfare prayer that is available to pray for those who need salvation. Make a list and pray for them daily or several times a week. Prayer for the lost is as a spiritual lasso that can reach people, anywhere at any time to pull them out of the grasp of satan and help bring them to Christ. No one is too lost to be saved! Out of love we will intercede for them.
  • Praying for your brothers and sisters in Christ. You can lift them up to the Lord to bless and strengthen them in this race, giving special attention to those who are new in the Lord or might be under the attack of satan. Remember our pastors, missionaries and others in full-time Christian ministry. Make another list for these and pray for them regularly. They come under attacks of satan and need our prayers.
  • We can help others by using Bibles, gospel tracts, articles, books, CD’s, DVD’s, Christian music, etc., to reach them for Christ. Copies of New Testaments can be purchased economically from various sources. Tracts can be inexpensive and are easily distributed in a variety of ways. They can be in different languages, enduring over time, eventually going anywhere, and be read by many people. Gospel tracts may be given to servers in restaurants along with a good tip. Also, service and repair men who come into your home can be given tracts. An article, Gospel Tracts, is available on request. Other materials such as articles, books, and various forms of media can be effective, also, in helping to reach others for Christ.
  • We can reach out and influence others by first developing relationships with them, especially those who need to be reached for Christ. Good relationships make it possible to influence people for Christ and to eventually lead them to receive Him as Savior. There are many avenues through which you can build relationships. Among them are your neighbors, people you work with, service personnel with whom you interact regularly, and helping people in times of special need and comforting. So, look on things of others and be friendly to them. Take time to talk to people and be a good listener. Many would like someone to just talk to, perhaps to unload and share their problems. That can become an open door for you to help lead a person to Christ.
  • A very important way we can help others is by sharing the gospel message of salvation with them. Most of the time this will be one-on-one, perhaps when having lunch with someone or during a visitation. We must prepare ourselves, individually, to present the gospel – the “good news”- message anytime and anywhere the opportunity is right. The Holy Spirit will help you. Just be prepared.

Often the chance to present the gospel will follow your sharing your personal testimony. Normally, no one will argue with you about your personal testimony. Your testimony should describe what your life was like before you came to Christ, how you came to Christ, and what your life has been like since. So, prepare a brief one or two page testimony that you can share when talking with others. Commit an outline of it to memory. The Apostle Peter tells us, “…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (I Peter 3:15 KJV).