Finish Strong

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Finish Strong

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
 
With the arrival of warmer weather I have been enjoying the opportunity to attend  middle school and high school track meets. I have always loved watching each of you boys, and now Abigail, participate in the high jump, but I have especially loved the races. There is nothing like watching a good runner pace himself and at the right moment kick it in, pass his opponents, and win the race. But recently I made an observation!
Congrats, Nathan, on a strong 800M finish last weekend!

As a number of really good runners have strained towards the finish line, they have slowed their pace right before passing the line. This does not make any sense to me. With a number of heats running for each event, the contestant with the fastest time is the winner. Even if you pass the line first in your heat, you may not win because someone in the next heat may have finished with a faster time. The timekeeper does not push the button until you cross the line – so why would you slow down until you are completely done?

It made me think of the Christian’s life. Paul calls it our race. As we live our lives, we should always strain toward what is ahead. Paul says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
This is how Paul lived his life. He used every breath he had to build the kingdom of God. When he came to the end of his life he was able to say confidently, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul never slowed down. He ran hard until he had broken the ribbon and God took him home to heaven.
I have made another observation. Many older Christians seem to slow down in their golden years. Oh, I know, they may be physically slower as health begins to fail, but sometimes they also slow down in their enthusiasm for serving Christ. I have heard it said, “I’ve done my time, and I will let someone younger carry the load now.”
While areas of service may change because of physical limitations, there is always work to be done. For any believer who is still on this earth the race is not over. As you get closer to the end remember  that if you are not over the line yet God still has a purpose for you.
Before Great Grandpa Thomson died he continued to serve the Lord by visiting those who were in the hospital. And while he was dying himself he still prayed for and told the man in the hospital bed next to him about God’s plan of salvation. He made the most of every breath he took.
 
So make sure you finish strong. Don’t stop, in track nor in life, until you have run strongly through the plane of the finish line. Then at the end of the contest you, like Paul and Great Grandpa, will be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
 

Love,

Mama

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Hi, I'm Sandy! 

I write inspirational letters based on the Bible that share words of hope, encouragement, truth, and healing to my children and anyone else who longs for a mama's touch.

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