-December 28, 2022-
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(2 Timothy 4:7).
Good morning, happy Wednesday,
Paul, the great apostle, preacher, teacher, and church planter, knew his time on earth was almost finished. He remained true to the Lord from the moment he was saved until his dying breath. He doesn’t say, “I almost fought the good fight, I nearly finished the race, I mostly kept the faith.” Rather, he was confident that he did all that God had him to do. He was prepared to die and enter into the presence of the Lord with joy.
We end each year at the finish line on December 31st. Each year is like a marathon starting on January 1st and ending on the last day of the year. Some come to the finish line walking, limping, or even crawling. Instead, we should be sprinting with a strong “finishing kick.” When I ran any Cross Country, track, or road race I always gave it all I had left until I crossed the finished line. My coaches always taught me to do this and to never to look back or on either side, but keep my eyes on the prize. I usually passed other runners at the end. The Christian race for the Lord is much the same. Some years are tougher than others, but each one is a blessing from the Lord.
Exodus 40:33 says of Moses, “And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.” Moses, like Paul, did everything that God gave him to do. Before he died he handed off the baton of leadership to his protégé Joshua.
It also good to finish the year strong, serving the Lord and living for Him. This way we won’t have regrets on earth or in heaven before the Judgment Seat of Christ. In his book, “Fan the Flame,” Joe Stowell wrote, “The Greeks had a race in their Olympic Games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.” William Culbertson, the former president of Moody Bible Institute, said, “It is important to start right, but is imperative to end well.”
May the Lord help us to finish the year well and strong. And not only this the year 2022 but all through our lives. No one knows how much time he or she has left, only the Lord does. Let us make our lives count in order to glorify the Lord to the end. Stay safe and healthy.
Running strong for our Savior,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 