FINISH STRONG
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
The last 10 days the hunting has been tough. Warm weather and lots of rain has had daylight deer movement at a minimum. I've had a missionary friend here for hos first hunt with us.
Don hunted each day morning and evening and while he saw deer on the food plot each day, the more bucks we knew were there remained nocturnal, but Don kept hunting. The last evening of the hunt, Don was beginning to get his stuff together in the blind and he glanced out in fading light appeared the buck I wanted Don to take. After waiting all week, it happened at the very last minute.
If Don had given up or slacked off , he would missed the blessing and rewards of the work put in. There are rewards for those that persevere, in hunting, in athletics and in all of life.
I've heard it said that, "you don't have to watch an entire NBA game, just the last two minutes". For many games that is true, it all comes down to who can persevere and "put it away" in the end. There are a lot of athletes that are great at the start, but burn out before the end of the game or race. These people rarely know the joy of finishing well. Life, like athletics isn't a sprint, but more of a marathon.
The great Boston Celtics guard, Larry Bird said it this way, "Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds."
Living a godly life isn't always easy. It takes perseverance and a strong heart. If we start to give up and allow the hardships to put us down, we will not complete the course, we will fall.
In 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Paul is coming to the end of his life. He is aware that he is close to death and he is able to see that he gave it his all, right up to the end. I wonder if I will be able to say that? How about you? Are you giving it your all, all the time? Or are you resting on what you've done in the past?
When it comes to the things of God press on. Be good, be godly and finish life strong. Long to hear the words that God used about David, "he is a man after God's own heart"... that show be our goal.
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