Finishing Well
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https://youtu.be/t2G8KVzTwfw
In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Derek Redmond of Great Britain was considered a favorite contender for a medal. It was the evening of August 3, 1992 as Redmond was pitted against seven others in a semi-final in the 400 meters. Redmond knelt poised, waiting for the race to start. As the gun went off, his body was translated into a human locomotion, feverishly charging against the other runners.
As Redmond prepared to round the curve after the halfway mark, however, he suddenly heard a pop. It was his right hamstring. Redmond soon found himself trapped by the searing pain of his leg.
The other runners finished the race as he desperately continued his painful trek to the finish line. He waved off the stretchers, however, determined to finish the race.
From the stands, his father had been watching. He pushed his way past security guards to meet his son on the track. He then reached his weeping son. “Look, you don’t have to do this.” Redmond then replied: “Yes I do.” His father then said: “Well, if you’re going to finish this race, we’ll finish it together.”
With his arm locked around his son, Jim Redmond helped his son to the finish line to the sounds of a cheering stadium.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
We are children of God, adopted into his family…and when we fall or hurt (like a Parent), He comes to our aid to lead us to the finish line.
For others, which is a majority sitting in this auditorium now…our fear paralyzes our abilities to do anything…when faced with a difficult challenge…for ourselves or for the Lord.
Why we don’t finish:
Why we don’t finish:
Reasons we don’t finish what we start:
Creating unrealistic goals.
Lacking a higher purpose.
Procrastinating.
Not taking responsibility.
Listening to people who discourage you.
Starting too many projects; losing focus.
Too negative.
Being selfish
Bad influences of others with no goals.
Watching too much TV
I want to focus on #2 “lacking a higher purpose”:
When we take God out of the picture, life is scary!
Without Him, we have every reason to be paralyzed by fear.
But with Him, we have no reason to fear…God’s word tells us so:
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Biblical examples of those who finished
Biblical examples of those who finished
Their fear and lack of faith could have caused these 10 (of many examples in the Bible) to stop moving forward for the cause of Christ:
Joseph – he was sold into slavery and cast into prison.
Gen 37:8 “…sold Joseph…for twenty pieces of silver: and brought Joseph into Egypt” - to preserve life and posterity of Jacob’s seed (Gen 45:5,7)
One of the most familiar verses about Joseph, points to the providence of God. Imagine if Joseph just quit:
Gen 50:20 “…you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive”
Moses – he was called to lead a nation out of bondage.
Ex 40:33 “So Moses finished the work” - erected the Tabernacle
Finished his work by erecting the tabernacle; not a permanent structure, but God commanded him to build this and he did.
Now the Lord would be in the presence of Israel day (cloud) and night (fire).
Imagine if Moses would have just quit!
Joshua – he was called to lead the nation of Israel across the Jordan River into a series of wars.
Ultimately passes the reigns of power to the tribes of Israel
Gives warning to “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Josh 24:15)
Rahab – she was called to help the spies at great risk to her own life.
What if she quit believing in the Lord, in redemption?
What would have happened to the “scarlet line” (Josh 2:21)
Gideon – was called to command 300 hundred men into a battle against thousands.
Heres the “…least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15) getting called to fight for a nation, with 300 against a force of 135,000.
He demands three signs from God (Judges 6:21 - consumes flesh and bread with fire from rock; Judges 6:37-38 - fleece of wool - wet/dry - two times asked God for sign)
Imagine after these signs of his calling, he lost faith in God - and quit responding. Who would have received the glory of battle? Through his experiences, Isreal could regain faith in the Lord because of the few.
1 Sam 14:6 “…for there is NO RESTRAINT to the LORD to save by man or by few”
David – he was called to fight a giant against unbelievable odds.
What if David never answered his own question: “Is there not a cause?” (1 Sam 17:29)
What if David quit being a good shepherd and didn’t prepare battle with Goliath and ignored his responsibilities to protect his sheep, in fighting with the lion and bear (1 Sam 17:34)
What if David’s faith didn’t prove itself, unlike Saul’s armor, in past battles? Would he have been able to say, “I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts” 1 Sam 17:45)
Paul – he was called to take the Gospel to the known world.
What if Paul just quit?
Just take a look at all the reasons he could have quit serving the Lord, others have quit for less!
2 Cor 11:24-27
Jesus – before the crucifixion he said in Jn 17:4 “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” and while hanging on the cross he gives meaning of “paid in full”.
What if Jesus would have quit and failed, while tempted in the Wilderness?
We all have been hungry, wanted to feed our ego, and attracted to material wealth. Satan has a way of making things sound good! (Matt 4:1-11)
In every case there was great victory, great blessing, and great promises to be claimed.
Could you imagine where we would be, if Christ had not finished His work on the cross of Calvary?
Or, if Paul wouldn’t have shared the Gospel to the Gentile world?
Or, if Rahab hadn’t extended that hand of protection to those spy’s?
In every case there was a mountain of fear, which could have stopped them from completing what God has called them to do…yet, their faith allowed God to be glorified and for them to recognize there is no risk in service with God.
What we need to do to prepare in finishing well.
What we need to do to prepare in finishing well.
We need to recognize, like these examples the meaning of:
Heb 13:6 “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”
This verse should give us confidence in that we should
Exhibit a “No fear” attitude towards the unknown!
Exhibit confidence:
In the obtaining of wisdom concerning what is to come.
In the execution of God promises of a spirit of love and of power and of a sound mind.
In the belief of God promises in being our helper, so we have no need to fear the unknown.
This summer…as you reflect back on the lessons (academic, career, spiritual and personal life) we need to consider what God has promised:
Ps 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears”.
We need learn to finish every task we start!
Luke 14:28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
Weigh the costs - is it worth it?
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: