We don’t always finish what we start. We are beginners, not enders. We are openers, not closers. We are halfwayers – we get halfway, then we halt. We commence, but we don’t complete. We embark, we don’t arrive. We initiate, but do not consummate. All of us will see evidence of this if we but look around our homes – projects started, but not finished. I hope I’m not alone.
Call me crazy. Getting ready for work one day, I flipped open the cabinet and pulled out the hair gel. That’s the last thing I do before heading downstairs and out for the day. I slap on some hair gel – my finishing touch. While slapping it on one particular day I had a revelation. I’m a starter, not a finisher. You see I had two containers of hair gel – one that was almost empty and one that was brand new. I grabbed the brand new one – I wanted to start something new. The first thought that came to my mind when I did that was: “Thank goodness Jesus finishes what he starts.” I promptly returned the new to finish out the old. In my quest to see all things Jesus, I saw Jesus in the Hair Gel – I know what you’re thinking and you might be right!
I started thinking about my faith-race. Will I finish? What will my finish look like? Will I limp over the line or will I lunge across for the crown of glory? Philippians 1:6 says: “And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it! Jesus has done His part in my faith-race – will I do my part? Will I run and not grow weary? Will I endure? Will I be faithful?
Endurance in the faith requires testing. No one in their right mind would voluntarily sign on for testing, but that’s how we are made to grow. We grow strong physically by testing. We grow strong spiritually by testing. James 1:12 says: “God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” We must endure. Endurance means bearing hardship, holding on, running on, never giving up, never stopping, persevering, spunking-up! Enduring means running the race, completing the test, finishing.
James told the Jewish-Christians how to finish. Grow your faith — when faith is tested endurance has a chance to grow. Endurance, courage, strength, the will to continue, to keep going in spite of hardship, burdens, grief, injury, oppression, trials, disasters – in spite of it all. Endure and you will grow.
Testing comes in many forms – interruptions, work, family, busyness, idols, laziness, complacency, death, destruction, fear, confusion, friends, excuses, attitudes, food, money, etc. My list goes on and on. I bet you have a list of your own. There are so many things that I allow to separate me from my Savior. He never separates from me – He will be faithful to complete. He’s a finisher. I separate from Him – I don’t train and I get tired. I get weak. I grow weary.
But, this is one race I must finish – it’s about life or death. It’s about the crown! Who doesn’t want that? First Timothy 4:7-8 says to “spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.” Paul said to spend time and energy in training for spiritual fitness because he knew Timothy, and those to follow – us — would need it.
First Timothy 4:1: “that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons.” Paul told Timothy that in the last days some would turn away from what they believed and follow others – they would not endure. They would not finish.
We must finish what we have started and finish strong. Finish with confidence. Run and not grow weary. Finish for the crown.
Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world! Look, I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
Revelations 3:10-11
Life is full of tests. We face them every day. This is the fallen world. Some trials are small – irritants. Some trials are enormous – mind blowing, gut wrenching, devastating. We must train, we must be ready. We must hold on. We must overcome. Jesus told us he is with us “always.” Not sometimes or only in the big stuff, but “always.” He told us we would have trouble. He told us to take heart. He told us he has overcome the world. He’s the Finisher.
Try to study the Word and feel all over the place. Try to settle your mind and can’t figure out where to start. Trying to pray but the words just don’t come. Searching for wisdom and only finding confusion. The Spirit Slayer works overtime. But…you don’t give up. You don’t stop. You don’t relent. You don’t give in. You keep opening your Bible. You keep asking God to intervene. You keep praising!