FINISHING WELL

FINISHING WELL

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing”.

 (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

God wants you and me to finish well.  He wants us to be able to say as Jesus did:  “I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).  There is a lot at stake in this matter of serving the Lord.  First of all it is a privilege that you and I have been chosen to be one of God’s children; Jesus said:  “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you” (John 15:16).

There are many reasons why people do not finish well.  Some people do not finish well because they have sinned.  Some do not finish well because of disappointments in others who they had faith in.  Some do not finish well because they feel they have failed before, so why try again.  This could be a failure in a business endeavor, in a relationship, or even as a parent or a child.  Some people will not finish well because they quit.  They did not complete something they should have finished so they have lost confidence in themselves that they can finish well.  Some people will not finish well because of the lose of a loved one and they become angry with the God who loves them and wants to help them..  Some do not finish well because Satan has attacked them and knocked them down and they have lost the will to get up and fight again.. Some people will not finish well because of loneliness, depression or discouragement.

One of the greatest things about God is that He continues to work with men and women despite their own limitations and failings.  Too often they do not allow God to complete what He starts within them.  The Lord Jesus wants to finish what He has started in you.  “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”  (Philippians 1:6).

To often people allow their circumstances to stop the Lord from putting the finishing touches on their lives.  They allow the bitter disappointments, the trials they are forced to endure, and the very dilemmas of life shape their character in such a way that nothing profitable ever comes of them.  Jesus gave us a warning about looking backwards. "Remember Lot's wife.” (Luke 17:32).  She had escaped the fire and brimstone of Sodom, but failed to follow God’s instructions and lost her life.

If you find yourself ready to quit, you need to understand that God is standing by ready to help you.  If you have found yourself in one of the reasons above that people do not finish well, consider these verses:  “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not” (Jeremiah 33:3).  “This poor person cried, and the LORD heard, and saved him out of all his troubles. The Angel of the LORD camps round about those who fear Him, and delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the person who trusts in Him” (Psalms 34:6-8).

“For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (Proverbs 24:16).

When you and I feel like quitting, we need to look up.  The Lord is the only resource that we can depend on to be there to help us day by day. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalms 121:1-2).

If you are a Christian, but you have become discouraged, keep on working for the Lord and remember where you are headed. Your blessings could be right around the corner or down the road.  If you turn back, you will never receive them.  God honors one thing above everything else and that is faith.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible….But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:1,3,6).  Remember "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).

Abraham Lincoln went bankrupt twice, three of his four sons died before the age of 18, he had a bad marriage, and was defeated in eight state and national elections before he became President.  Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants at age 65, using $105 from his first Social Security check to fund visits to potential franchisees.  He went to over 200 restaurants before someone bought his idea.  These are examples of men that did not quit and became successful in politics and business.  Just think what we can accomplish for the Lord if we are willing to keep on going in our failures and never let money, age, or negative comments of others affect us.  Many of you may be close to accomplishing something great in your life, but you have doubts about your abilities or resources.  Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).   

Your enemy is Satan and he wants you to fall down and stay down, Jesus wants you to finish well. “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).

God wants you to finish well.  “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:8).

The blessings and benefits of finishing well are worth getting up and continuing the fight.  “But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  (I Corinthians 2:9).