Before You Cross the Finish Line

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.   II Timothy 4:7 NIV

The first time I heard this oft-told story, it was rendered by Wayne Grubbs, pastor at Lakeview Baptist Church in Oxford, Alabama.  The story goes something like this: Near the end of the sermon about heaven, the pastor said to the congregation, “How many of you want to go heaven?”  Everyone in the church raised their hand except for one little boy on the front row.  The pastor turned toward the boy and asked,, “Son, don’t you want to go to heaven?” And the little boy replied, “Yes sir! When I die.  But I thought you were getting’ up a trip right now.”

Maybe some of us feel like we are getting ready for this trip in the near future, but most of us are probably under the illusion that the end is a long ways away.  No matter our age, we need to be ready to cross the finish line by keeping the faith.

What are the things you want to accomplish before crossing the finish line?  Earlier this month, I celebrated my 51^st birthday.  On my birthday, January 13, I shared a eulogy (somewhere close to my 750^th) for one of our beloved senior saints who went home to be with the Lord.  To my knowledge, this is the first time I have conducted a funeral on my birthday.  The strange juxtaposition of these two events, birthday and funeral, inspired me to think a little more seriously about my own “kingdom bucket list.”  What are the things God wants to do through my life between now and the time I cross the finish line.

Here are things I think we all need to do before we depart this world for our heavenly home:

• Go where you need to go: Go on that mission trip. Take that vacation. Visit that long-time friend.
• Do what needs to be done: Get acquainted with your neighbor.  Teach that Sunday School class. Share your faith with that colleague or classmate.
• Say what needs to be said: Tell your family members that you love them. Share that story with your children or your grandchildren.  Forgive the one who has offended you.
• Give what needs to be given: Honor the Lord with all of your resources and give your firstfruits to the work of the kingdom.  Pass along that family heirloom to the next generation.  Invest in the future by leaving a legacy gift to your church or an important ministry project.
• Plan what needs to be planned: Develop your exit strategy. Have your paperwork (advanced directive, will, life insurance) in good order.  Leave behind your memorial wishes (Note: One good way to do this is to complete a “Holder File” and store it securely in the pastor’s office at FBCP.) 

James reminds us that life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14 NKJV).  Since life is unpredictable and life on this earth will end for every one of us one day, I am convinced that the best way to prepare for death is to live life to the maximum. For me, that means, in addition to trusting Christ as my Savior, I am privileged to follow Christ every step of the journey…. serving, growing, and doing what needs to be done, until I cross the finish line.

This Sunday we continue our series, Living by the Book, as we deal with “The Human Dilemma.”  To prepare for Sunday, I encourage you to read Genesis 2:5-7, 18-22 and Ephesians 2:8-10.

I am looking forward to seeing you in worship and Bible study this Sunday morning as we learn to “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22 KJV)