I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day. -- 2 Timothy 4:7-8
In AD 67, the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting his execution. He knew that the time of his departure from planet earth was coming… and he was so excited to meet the Lord in glory. You see, Paul had lived his Christian life sold out to Jesus. He was not perfect, but he definitely was not lukewarm either. He finished the race in full stride, still on fire for Jesus Christ.
WHEN YOU MEET THE LORD?
All too often, people face death without the humble confidence and joyful expectation that Paul had. So many people face death with regret and shame, knowing that they wasted much of their life pursuing money and things and pleasure and stuff… and did not really seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33).
Paul knew he would have to give an account of His life to the Lord one day. He knew that it paid to serve Jesus… and that kept him faithful to the end, even when times were tough and he wanted to quit.
YOU CAN FINISH LIKE PAUL
No matter where you are today in your spiritual life, “it ain’t over till it’s over.” If you still have breath, you still have time to turn it around for Christ. Maybe you have fallen on the track and not gotten back up… or maybe you have said the fight is too hard and have left the ring. The Lord’s hand is outstretched to you. He says, “I know you have blown it… but I am not through with you yet. My grace is sufficient for you. Take my hand… get back in the race… and finish strong.”
Will you make it your life’s ambition to finish strong so that when the time for your departure comes, you too can have confidence when you meet Jesus in glory?
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