Finish Strong

This Olympics we witness some strong finishes. From Noah Lyles photo finish in the 100, and his heroic attempt at the 200 with COVID. Sha’carri Richardson's catch in the end of the 4x100 relay. To Stephen Curry’s performance in the fourth quarter to put the golden dagger in France. But favorite of all the games was Quincy Hall. Than man was in Four Place with 100 meters to go and walked down all of them just to barely finish first.

This is a biblical analogy to our lives as Christians. That we run, we fight, we have to go all the way for and with Jesus. We are to live out our entire lives with the tenacity of a great athlete knowing that our living is not in vain, but also because God has called us to give our very best to him.

All of these great athletes finished what they started.

1. Future is not Guaranteed

Paul is at a place in his life where he knows the immanent danger he is in. He knows what is going on around him, he knows he’s there because of an unfair trial, and he knows that there is a empire wide sanctioned persecution of the Church. He knows his future is not guaranteed. But, his language, although definitive, is also hopeful.

Church understand that none of us know the day or the hour that the LORD is coming back to get his church, but also we don’t know the day or the hour the LORD is coming to get us individually.

He says he is being poured out as a drink offering, he is about to go the way of all the earth but as martyr. And the drink offering was a way to give God a pleasing aroma. That’s how confident he was in the life he had lived. If the LORD were to call you home today, would you have the confidence that your life would be pleasing.

One thing though, and the reason I had us read the entire passage earlier is because Paul was’t planning on dying. He was planning on living. (Preach)

2. Faithful to his Assignment

Fight- Strength Boxing anthology

Finished-Endurance is tested

Faith-Kept these times faith is tested

3. Future Awards

I love the “henceforth” reserved for me. I know that I am going to receive what God has for me.

The righteous Judge?

Award vs. Reward

Jesus Finished Strong…Started in 42 Generations and he kept going…fought angst the enemy in the wilderness and he kept going…he lived