Finishing is Important

Think about a challenge, whatever it may be.  Usually the participants are ready and somewhat prepared.  But not everyone who starts finishes well, some give up or drop out before the challenge is over.  

Let’s take a race for example the fastest runner is not always the one who wins the race because sometimes they might start out ahead but tire out before the end of the race and fall behind.  Sometimes the difference between the winner and the loser is strategy, planning ahead making sure they are ready mentally, physically and emotionally.  Sometimes people are so over confident they neglect the other important factors that should have been a priority.

This reminds me of the story of the “Hare and the Tortoise.”  The rabbit was much faster but the tortoise won because of over confidence on the rabbit’s part.  What is over confidence?  I think it is the deception of a person thinking they can solely rely on themselves for a positive ending regardless of the circumstances or situation.  The tortoise paced himself and with endurance ended up the victor.  Both of them were determined but the rabbit was over confident and lacked wisdom.

I think the same thing happens in the spiritual realm.  I think everyone starts out determined but not everyone ends up that way.  There were people in God’s Word that started out ok but didn’t end up well.  There were even angelic beings that started out ok but ended up shipwrecked, you might say.  To name a few:

Adam and Eve who were so close to God they walked with Him in the cool of the day.  I think everyone knows what happened to them.  Their sin affected the whole human race and the world also.  

Then there was Samson, he started out ok but ended up crushed, blind and humiliated.

Then there was King Saul, he ended up powerless, defeated and also humiliated along with others in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament there was Judas, Ananias and Sapphira and others that started out well but finished horribly.

In the angelic realm there was Lucifer and a third of the angels who all started out well but ended up miserably.

They all made choices they never thought they would make, and it cost them dearly.  In 1^st Corinthians 9:24-27 it says Paul speaking, “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. 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. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

If you read chapter 10 you will see that many Israelites started out well but because of their choices ended up separated from God and totally destroyed.  Paul was determined not to lose the prize or his reward, he had proved himself over and over again because he knew the One he served was faithful.  In turn Paul wanted to be faithful also showing his appreciation, love and commitment to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and also to the churches he was responsible for. 

Something to think about and not take lightly.  May God bless you and yours and have a great day.  P.S. don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!