Family: Longing to Find Our ‘Forever Home’

How would you like to be part of a family in which you didn’t know from one day to the next whether you were still in it? Sadly, there are instances of families where that might be the case. However, for most of us there’s no need to worry about whether we still belong to our family. Even with adopted children, once the legal papers have been signed and the judge decrees so, they’re officially part of that family. They have a ‘forever home.’ 

But what about people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, those the Bible says are all promised a literal forever home in heaven? Is that family status also assured for them? Or can one’s relationship with God change, depending upon our actions, words and thoughts? Kind of like the ‘He loves me, He loves not’ pulling petals off a daisy dilemma?

 

This has been debated in Christianity through the centuries – the question about what some theologians refer to as the “security of the believer.” Others in the Church prefer the phrase, “once saved, always saved.” Can a person who has professed faith in Jesus Christ lose his or her salvation – in essence, be kicked out of the family?

 

Although I’m not a theologian, like many people I’ve got some thoughts about this, based on what I’ve studied in the Scriptures along with wisdom I’ve gleaned from esteemed Bible teachers. 

 

Various practices have been utilized as visible evidence of a person’s genuine commitment to Christ: Walking an aisle and responding to an altar call. Audibly ‘praying the prayer’ as someone else directs is another ‘proof’ of salvation. During evangelistic services, the speaker might ask those who have invited Jesus into their lives to raise their hands. Or a registration card might be used, with guests at an outreach event encouraged to indicate on the card if they prayed to receive Christ.

 

Many devout followers of Jesus can point to a time when they did one of the things mentioned. It was a moment they ‘planted a stake’ spiritually. However, when our earthly life ends and we approach the proverbial ‘pearly gates,’ no one’s going to ask, “Did you do this…or that.” Because responding with emotion in the moment doesn’t always equate to consciously deciding, “Jesus, I want you to take the reins of my life.” 

 

Looking back at my own spiritual journey, I did some of those things before understanding who the Lord was – and knew I was His. My outward action, whatever it was, didn’t mean anything if my heart – my “inmost being,” as the Bible terms it – wasn’t also on board. 

 

Back to the security of the believer question: Once people become saved, are they always saved? Titus 3:5 is one of many Bible verses that teach salvation – right standing with God – isn’t based on what we’ve done. It states, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

 

Ephesians 2:8-9 also declares, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Grace means undeserved, unmerited favor. There’s nothing we can do to earn the Lord’s love, forgiveness and acceptance.

 

But what about the person who at one time walked an aisle, prayed a prayer, or raised a hand, but later turned away from the faith? He or she no longer goes to church, engages in lifestyle practices contrary to what the Scriptures teach, and may even declare, “I don’t believe in God.” Is that individual still “saved”?

 

God alone knows the heart. We’re told in Romans 10:9-11, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’” As the passage affirms, faith in Christ involves the heart as well as the head.

 

A quote attributed to D.L. Moody and repeated by others seems to sum up the situation well: “If your faith fizzles before the finish, it was flawed from the first. Saving faith is staying faith.”

 

Maybe this is why heroes of the faith often focused on finishing well. The apostle Paul wrote, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…. I press toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

 

Writing to urge his protégé Timothy to continue in the work of spreading the Gospel, Paul asserted, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). It almost seems like a sigh of relief. Another apostle, James, also addressed this. He wrote, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

 

The book of Revelation, describing how the end of times and the second coming of Christ will unfold, warned, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). 

 

Even Jesus underscored this. Preparing His disciples for intense opposition and persecution, He said, “All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). We can quickly think of one who didn’t: Judas Iscariot.

 

We also have the assurance that “perseverance of the saints” – that those truly saved by God will remain steadfast in their faith and ultimately be saved eternally – isn’t about how much strength and willpower we can muster. Jesus promised all believers through the ages, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-30).

 

To followers of Jesus in ancient Philippi, Paul gave this assurance: “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). He also underscored God’s initiative in this whole spiritual miracle: “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

 

So, the question isn’t, ‘Can someone lose their salvation?’ but rather, ‘Were they genuinely saved at all?” As Moody observed, “If your faith fizzles before the finish, it was flawed from the first.”

Lessons We Could Learn from the Summer Olympics

How much of the Summer Olympics did you watch? I didn’t sit glued to the TV to catch every moment. But I made sure to view my favorite events, including women’s gymnastics, swimming, and some of the track and field competitions.

 

Alas, time hurries on and thoughts have already shifted to the next Summer Olympics, scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028. By now, some guy with less brains than brawn has probably taken his gold medal to have it bronzed. I did hear the final competitor in the marathon is just meters away from the finish line.

Watching the splish-splashing and thrashing through the water; dashing and striding from start to finish; throwing and kicking of balls through hoops and nets; and flexing of muscles to display various acts of strength and coordination, it occurred to me many principles for everyday living were on display. Here are some of them, along with biblical truths supporting them:

 

It’s not how you start, but how you finish. In the 100-meter dash, race favorite Noah Lyles trailed as the finish line rapidly neared. However, with an amazing finishing kick, the USA’s Lyles won the event in a photo finish, leaning in to beat Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by five-thousands of a second. 

 

This reminded me of a declaration by the apostle Paul, writing to his protégé, Timothy. Paul wasn’t talking about running a sprint but rather a marathon, spiritually speaking. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). His mission was complete.

 

Perseverance pays off. The Olympic Games come around only once every four years, so for most of us it’s two weeks of entertainment, then we turn our attention to something else. Not so for the athletes. They devote thousands of hours leading up to the Games, arising early and staying late to practice and hone their skills. They suffer injuries, endure the pain of the daily practice grind, and fight off moments when they’re tempted to quit.

 

Again, Paul wasn’t writing about athletic competitions but the challenge of remaining true to faith in Christ regardless of the obstacles. He said, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts…” (Romans 5:3-5).

 

Olympic hopefuls endure intense training and sacrifice, all for the opportunity to represent their respective countries and try to win a medal. As believers, we’re called to persevere through good times and bad, through triumphs, failures and hardships, all to one day hear our Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).

 

Every one of us in necessary. The U.S. women’s team advanced to the finals of their 4-by-400-meter relay races, as did the U.S. men’s team in the 4-by-100-meter relay. However, the teams experienced markedly different results. The women’s team, featuring Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – who had already won the 400-meter hurdles gold medal – set a world record running for the gold together. Their baton exchanges were flawless, and each woman contributed to their achievement.

 

The men’s 100-meter relay team, however, bungled a baton exchange and was disqualified for not completing the transfer within the specified distance. Based on their earlier individual performances, the four men had been favored to win. However, they proved the wisdom of the adage, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” Individually the men ran well, but they failed in meshing together, extending U.S. losses in the event to 20 years.

 

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 we find an analogy to this: “Now the [human] body is not made up of one part but of many…. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” In the women’s 400-meter relay, every member was honored and the team rejoiced. Misery, however, was etched on the faces of the hapless men’s 100-meter relay team.

 

Your best is the best you can do. Of the thousands of Olympic competitors, most never win a medal at all, much less gold. For them, participating and having the honor of representing their countries is their reward. But it was clear virtually all of them did the best they could, even in medal-less defeat.

 

The same applies for us as followers of Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 admonishes, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Most of us will never receive public recognition or become known as the world’s best at something. But if we have done the best we can for the Lord, that is enough. Which leads to the final principle I’ll cite:

 

Ultimately, God deserves the credit. Even though athletes reportedly were instructed to refrain from any religious expressions, a number of them still managed to use their performances as an opportunity to speak out for their faith in God. 

 

Among them were McLaughlin-Levrone; American Cole Hocker, who stunned by winning the men’s 1,500-meter run in another near-photo finish; and Gabriel Medina, a surfer from Brazil. His photographic image was captured in midair with his surfboard, pointing to the sky in a gesture recognized by people of his nation as a statement of faith.

Speaking to His disciples, Jesus said, “Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me” (John 12:26). During the recent Summer Olympics it was heartening to see that despite moments when it seemed to the contrary, the Lord was served and honored. 

How You Start Doesn’t Matter If You Don’t Finish Well

The recently completed Summer Olympics filled me with very mixed emotions. I’ve always enjoyed the pageantry of the games, the thrill of victory converging with the agony of defeat, and the opportunity to exude patriotic pride by rooting for U.S. competitors. All the world coming together on a single stage, finely tuned athletes vying for their moments of fame.

 

But the heightened politicization of the games has become a turn-off. I’m like the person that doesn’t want different foods to touch on her plate. I like my sports to be solely about sports, untainted by political posturing and ideologies. The “east is east and west is west, and never the twain shall meet” perspective.

 

Nevertheless, I watched enough of the competition to reaffirm an underlying principle: It’s not about how you start, but how you finish. Whether in gymnastics, where a beautiful routine on the balance beam can be spoiled by a poor dismount; a runner who leads the pack early on but falters toward the end of a race; or a beach volleyball team that wins the opening set but loses momentum and drops a match – it’s all about finishing well.

One of the most thrilling events was a relay race in swimming. A team trailed going into the final leg, but then the star swimmer leaped into the pool, slowly gaining on the leader until he secured the victory in the final meters. It’s all about the finish.

 

For most of us, the closest we’ll ever get to the Summer or Winter Olympics is our couch or recliner, watching the competition in glorious, digital color on our TVs. But we’re all engaged in a race – the race of life. The marks we leave, our legacies, will be determined not by how well we started or how noble our intentions were, but how we finished. 

 

We can all think of people – family members, friends, or famous individuals – who failed to finish well. Celebrities, public officials, business executives, even Christian leaders who captured the admiration of many during their lives only to have their reputations sullied, even destroyed, by moral or ethical failures exposed after their deaths. 

 

How do we ensure a good finish to our lives? That’s a question that, with the passing of years, I ask again and again. I doubt anyone would want an epitaph to read, “Started well…but his (or her) finish? Not so good.”

 

We can turn to the world of sports for clues to finishing well. Because no athlete excels, especially at such a high level as the Olympics, without certain key qualities to propel their performance. Here are some of them, along with some biblical principles we all can apply for successfully finish life’s race:

 

Following the rules. Each sport has basic rules each athlete must follow. Failure to abide by them results in defeat or disqualification. “…if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5).

 

Persevering despite obstacles. Adversity is a fact of life; the key is to persevere and push through, no matter how great the challenge. “…one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

 

Avoiding distractions. Top athletes can become tempted by many things that deter them from their mission. They must avoid anything that doesn’t help in achieving their goals. “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” (Hebrews 12:1)

 

Maintaining a clear focus. Every athlete knows that to succeed requires intense concentration, developing a tunnel vision that focuses on the desired end result. “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” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

 

Refusing to quit. Giving up, no matter how near or far the finish line may be, guarantees failure. Tiredness, setbacks and discouragement happen, but they don’t justify quitting. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

 

Remaining resolute. One reason for failure is forgetting the motivation for putting in all the hard work, the sacrifice and effort. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Rejoicing in a strong finish.When determined athletes reach the finish line, whether they win or not, they can celebrate as long as they’ve given it their best. No regrets.“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). 

Where Champions Are Made

In a couple of weeks, we’ll again have the chance to marvel as gifted athletes from around the globe compete in the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Skiers will race down slopes at breakneck (hopefully not) speeds; figure skaters will glide across the rink with their collection of lutzes, axels, spins, and maybe a camel or two.

Ski jumpers will soar through frigid skies, straining for the bottom-most patches of icy snow lying many meters below. And speed skaters will chase around a frozen oval, even though a diagonal path would have been much faster.

Already, favorites for each event have been identified. But as happens every Olympics, some of those favored will falter. Unexpected champions will emerge, happily embracing their moment in the sun – or snow, or ice – new “household names” being awarded medals of gold, silver and bronze.

In a real sense, those champions have already been determined in the months and years leading up to this Olympics. I was reminded of this while visiting the YMCA recently for a workout. Someone wore a T-shirt that said, “Champions are made when no one is looking.”

We find everyday examples in the middle-aged guy who’s finally decided to shed excess, health-threatening pounds; the gal prepping for her first half-marathon, the person determined to become the fittest person at the office, or the elderly individual rehabbing from a physical setback.

The same applies whether it’s the area golf champion or the winner of the Masters; winners at the local tennis club or Wimbledon; spelling bee champs; skilled surgeons; inspiring high school teachers, and accomplished business leaders. We can witness and appreciate the end results and yet have no idea of the work, sweat and determination it took for them to achieve their objectives.

What about becoming a spiritual “champion”?

Similarly, men and women become champions for Jesus Christ when no one was looking. Rarely – even in our churches – does anyone focus attention on the person spending time daily communing with God in the Scriptures and in prayer. Strong, enduring faith isn’t gained by attending a stirring worship service or a spiritual conference, but in the bunkers of pain and struggle, where we have no alternative but to persevere, trusting God and His promises.

Virtually every effective Christian leader, whether speaking from the pulpit, facilitating a Sunday school class, or heading up a faith-based company, has been aided in his or her growth by disciplers, mentors and accountability partners, interactions usually unseen by those who benefit from their direction.

The apostle Paul admonished his protégé, Timothy, to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). How could Timothy do this? Initially, he learned from Paul. Then he persisted in applying those lessons in quiet, personal hours. Knowing – and using – the Word of God correctly comes only with time, attention and prayer.

Abraham, from whom the people of Israel trace their lineage, went through the refining furnace of faith in many ways, so that when God gave him the curious command to sacrifice his promised son, Isaac, he did not waver: “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son” (Hebrews 11:17). When no one was looking, Abraham’s faith was being established so he could trust the Lord would somehow resolve this dilemma in a redemptive way. As He did.

Looking back over my life, the times I’ve learned most and grown have not been easy, smooth-sailing moments, even though they’re preferable to times of intense challenge. It’s been circumstances when there was nothing else I could do but to look up, believing in God’s faithfulness even when the limits of credibility were being stretched, that have advanced my spiritual maturity.

As James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”

This is what God calls each of us to do. So that one day we’ll agree with Paul, who wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). In God’s eyes, we’ll be “champions” He has fashioned when no one was looking.

Are Your Role Models Still Living?

Most of us have role models, people we greatly respect and even would like to emulate. After watching the Olympics, athletes like Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles no doubt gained many thousands of new, ardent admirers. We might have someone at work, a very accomplished veteran, whose abilities and traits we’d like to see in our own lives.

Students often have favorite teachers, people who made learning not just fun, but truly an adventure. “I want to be like her (or him),” is a common reaction when we’re in the presence of an inspirational educator. As a writer, I’ve had a number of authors who in one way or another served as role models as I forged my own journalistic and literary career.

But have you ever considered that perhaps the very best role models are…no longer living? I started pondering this recently after hearing someone on the radio state emphatically, “All of my role models are dead.”

Think about it: How many times have we read sad reports about some supposedly upstanding citizen – an entertainer, athlete, politician, business leader, even a pastor or ministry leader – a revered role model for many, who was exposed for scandalous moral or ethical behavior? What happens when those we place on a pedestal tragically fall from grace, so to speak? We become disheartened, disillusioned, even devastated. How could those we held in such high esteem stoop so low?

So perhaps it’s a good idea for our role models to be from a different place and time. A local pastor for years has led a weekly discussion group called the Dead Theologians Society, in which men and women review the writings of Christian leaders from centuries past. Part of the reasoning is that eternal truth never has an expiration date. But there’s also no danger that sage spiritual minds of the past – like Augustine, Charles H. Spurgeon, St. Francis of Assisi, Andrew Murray, Martin Luther, A.W. Tozer, Teresa of Avila, Oswald Chambers, C.S. Lewis, Corrie ten Boom, John Bunyan, and many others – will become the subject of disgraceful headlines in tomorrow’s newspaper, on the Internet, or the nightly news.

This is one reason Hebrews 11 is such an important chapter in the Bible. Here we find men and women of faith – starting with Abel and continuing with other Old Testament patriarchs like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samson, David, Samuel and the prophets. As Hebrews 11:13 states, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”

Later the chapter talks about individuals “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised…” (verse 33). But it also points out that others, “were tortured and refused to be released…. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison…stoned; they were sawed in two, hey were put to death by the sword…” (Hebrews 11:35-37). Could we face that and remain true to what we believe?

The chapter concludes by stating, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised” (Hebrews 11:39). In other words, they still were looking for the promised Messiah, clinging to the hope of redemption and life everlasting. And they didn’t have a local Christian bookstore, or a handy Internet website to go to for encouragement. All they had was faith, which the first verse of Hebrews 11 declares to be, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

One of the hardest things in life is finishing well, whether it’s pursuing a college education, competing in an athletic event, forging a career, building a healthy marriage and family, or walking with God. It’s too easy, too tempting, to quit or take a detour along the way.

Many of our personal role models have started well. But how will they finish? Will we become disappointed to see them decide it’s not worth finishing their marathon? Will we discover their talk was a lot larger than their walk?

So maybe the guy was right – it’s best to have role models that are dead. Especially godly ones. We can study how they lived and try to discover how they succeeded in finishing well. Much like the apostle Paul, who wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Your Finish Is What Counts

In a NASCAR race, there are starts and stops, and cars take turns
being in the lead. But at the end, only one finishes in front to win.

Ready or not, NASCAR’s 2014 season gets underway with preliminary events this weekend and the Daytona 500 Feb. 23. If you’re not a NASCAR fan, fear not. My goal isn’t to discuss “stock car auto racing.” (Doesn’t that sound redundant?) I want to comment on a fundamental principle that guides the sport – and most other sports: It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

Before every race, drivers boast about what great cars they have. “We’ve really got sump’n for ‘em today,” they promise faithful fans. But by race’s end, only one team gets to celebrate, having proved they really did have “sump’n.”

During the race different cars take the lead. But then they crash, have miscues in the pits, experience mechanical failure, or fall behind faster cars. They looked good midway through the race, but only one car reaches the finish line first. What’s true for NASCAR is also true for life: It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

Recently I received a card and photo from a long-time friend, Bob. He just turned 94, and is doing something not many nonagenarians do – taking a mission trip to China. At age 94! He committed his life to Jesus Christ as a young man, and for more than seven decades his passion has been singular: To tell others about the Jesus who radically transformed his life, and lives of countless other people he’s known throughout his lifetime.

You might disagree, but in my view, that’s what finishing well looks like. Rather than devoting his hours to a favorite rocking chair, Bob’s still finding ways to talk to people about Christ. No matter where they are.

Finishing well, however, isn’t confined to ending your time on earth without making a fool of yourself. Finishing well is equally important in your teens, 20’s or even middle years. For instance, many people begin college and start well, but lose interest, decide goofing off is more fun than studying, or get caught up in destructive pursuits. Promising lives derailed into disappointment. High school’s “most likely to succeed” becoming failures.

Couples exchange wedding vows with bright smiles and high expectations. But they discover the challenge of “two becoming one” is harder than they thought, or think the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, or decide their spouse isn’t as much fun as he or she used to be. So they divorce, another marriage piled on the social scrap heap, often with children suffering collateral damage.

Sales executives start strong, ticketed for corporate stardom. But for one reason or another, their determination, energy, drive and enthusiasm fade and eventually they’re just hanging on.

Years ago I was changing jobs. My boss, not pleased I was leaving, changed the employment terms for my final weeks before I moved to my new position. I wasn’t happy with the changes and was tempted to stop working on the projects I hadn’t completed. “If he doesn’t appreciate me,” I thought, “I’ll show him.”

Coincidentally, I’d started working on an article about NASCAR titled, “It’s Not How You Start, But How You Finish.” Driving to a spiritual retreat, I grumbled and complained to God. “It’s not fair,” I thought, knowing He was listening. After a few moments, I heard a still, small voice in my mind. God, apparently tired of my muttering, asked, “What’s the name of that NASCAR article you’ve been writing?” Oh, right.

Humbled, I doused my anger, decided to forget “my rights,” and resolved to conclude my employment by finishing what I had started as well as I could. And I never regretted it for a moment. If I’d failed to fulfill my obligations with my former employer, I might still regret it today.

The apostle Paul knew nothing about NASCAR, unless the C stood for “Chariots” in those days. But he knew about finishing well. Encouraging believers in the city of Philippi, Paul wrote, “Not that I have obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…. Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

And in his final letter to Timothy, a young man he’d mentored for years, Paul stated, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith…” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

In reality, the apostle’s start hadn’t been good. He’d zealously persecuted the same people – followers of Christ – that one day he would become. But his poor beginning was more than overcome by his unwavering faith and determination to finish well.

Here’s the question facing us: How are we finishing our own race?