Finishing Well

Believers who want to finish well must discard extra baggage ()

Explanation: The writer provides the imagery of one entering a stadium for the final lap of the race. Those in the stands are cheering them on to the finish. In the same manner, those saints of old who have already completed their race are cheering us to the finish. Whether they can actually see us, or we are just encouraged and inspired by their lives of faith. the goal is the same. And in so doing, we must cast aside anything that would hinder us from finishing well

Illustrate: Olympic swimmers who shave their heads and chest hair. Not that having hair is sinful, but they eliminate anything that will slow them down in their quest for the gold medal

Argument: Those things in life that entangle us and slow us down or sidetrack our journey of faith are not sinful in and of themselves. Even good things, if consumed to excess, can become harmful. Sports, Hunting, becoming helicopter parents, boats & 4 wheelers, collecting shells, etc. can all entangle us on our journey of faith. We CAN have the same attitude as the Apostle Paul in .

Application: Inventory your pursuits and goals in life. What consumes most of your time, and is it in balance. Become spiritual mountain climbers and travel light

Believers who want to finish well must dispose of sin ()

Explanation: On the negative side of being slowed down or side-tracked is the issue of besetting sins. The writer warns us to cast aside those sins which cling to us and wrap us up.

Illustrate: Stepping into quicksand. At first it looks easy just to get out of it. But, the more you struggle, the deeper you get entangled and entrapped.

Argument: Notice the writer tells the reader to cast the sin aside. He does not tell the reader to manage the sin or to get it under control. This is a lie that we allow ourselves to believe. Kind of like an anger management class, or a subutex program that doesn’t eliminate the problem.

Believers who want to finish well must stay focused on Jesus ()

Explanation: The writer now gives the most important instruction of all: stay focused on Jesus. Simple words to say, but difficult to live. Nonetheless, this is truly the area of greatest concern. Life and Eternity really do have their central focus on Jesus. It really is all about Him! And when we allow our focus to shift from Christ, our ministry and our lives will drift

Illustrate: farmer who plows a field takes a fixed point on the far side. As long as he remains lined up on the fixed point he will have a straight row.

Argument: Activities and events may in and of themselves be good things, but activity for the sake of filling up a church calendar can easily disguise the reality of ministry drift. We CAN and we MUST keep the main thing the main thing - our Association, our individual churches, and families need a Christ focus to be healthy and to stay healthy. []

Application: We are to constantly be evaluating and re-evaluating our ministry events, programs, and activities to ensure they are not simply on the calendar because they always have been. Churches need to offer some free hunting licenses for the harvesting of Sacred Cows. These creatures are not on the endangered species list, and their ranks need to be thinned from our churches!

Believers who want to finish well must persevere in spite of hardships ()

Explanation: In my opinion, this is the most difficult aspect of finishing well; we keep on keeping on for Jesus until He calls us home. And we do this knowing full well that not only will we not be honored by the world, but that we will labor without the promise of the easy road. Living faithfully for Jesus will involve hardships, and will involve sacrifice. And in this area of Life, the Master gives us His own life as an example and an encouragement. Jesus went through much more persecution, heartache, pain, and loss than we can imagine. His example challenges us not to grow weary or fainthearted.

Argument: We are to live for Christ, regardless of the persecutions, the lack of interest, the unending cultural pressure, and in spite of rejection.

Example:

William Carey was married at 19, economically challenged, and not expected to accomplish much.

He was called down by an older minister when he proposed to go and convert the heathen. “Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine”

Carey sailed to India anyway with his wife and 4 children. The British East India Company opposed his missionary efforts

He buried 2 wives and one son while serving as a missionary in India

He labored 7 years before he saw the first convert to Christianity

In spite of this, God used William Carey to translate the Bible into 3 major Indian languages, and Carey was instrumental in putting an end to the practice of widow burning and infanticide. He became known as the Father of Modern Missions

“I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.” (William Carey)