Finishing Well

In 2006, Floyd Landis performed one of the greatest cycling performances in history. At stage 17 of the Tour de France, Landis smoked his competition as he traversed five mountain passes over the 105 mile course with frightening power. His strength and endurance led him to victory. But after the race, he was disqualified and disgraced for blood doping. Landis finished strong but he didn’t finish well.

Those who did not finish well

In the stories of the Bible I can name a few here who started well, but did not finish well. Saul was God's first choice to be the king of Israel. But he ended his life as a disobedient child of God. Young Solomon built a temple for Yahweh. Old Solomon built temples for other gods and thereafter his kingdom went down the slide. Uzziah started as a powerful and pious ruler of Judah. He died as a leper punished by God for he did things which he should not do (2 Chronicles 26, 27). Judas was one of those twelve disciples whom Jesus loved dearly as friend. But he betrayed Jesus and died in a miserable manner. John 6:66 says about a great number who turned back and did not follow Jesus. Demas proved to be a shallow rooted Christian because he deserted ministry for the sake of the world (2 Timothy 4:10). 

Those who finished well 

In stark comparison of the above mentioned characters were the lives of men and women of God who finished well. There was Samuel whose farewell address in 1 Samuel 12:2-4 is worth reading. People acknowledged Samuel as a man of integrity. There was Simeon, Anna who waited for the Saviour in the Jerusalem temple and finished their races well and rested in peace (Luke 2). Paul’s farewell address in Acts 20:18-21 tells about his life as a man in ministry well-lived. That’s why he could say almost close to his death these words of victory: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

How can I finish well?

Well, all of us have a common goal for our life’s running race. Whether we like it or not we are going to finish it. But death is not the ultimate in the life of a believer. If only the life’s race is finished well, a believer of Jesus gets the reward of living eternally and joyfully in heaven. What is that, that is diverting us from running the race well? If it’s a life of sin we need to look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-3 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Following Jesus will help us finish well. Finishing well each day helps us finishing our years well. So at the end of every passing day it is good to ask myself, “Have I finished well?” If not I would brood about it and work on it until I finish my days well.