The Race

The Race

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

There is much satisfaction in finishing something you have begun! The success of a race is determined not only by how well you begin but also by how well you end. Many athletes can begin a race impressively, but if they stumble or are injured or lack the stamina to finish, their good start is useless. Paul rejoiced that he had not only begun the race; but he had also finished it. His prize was a robust faith in God and a life filled with God's powerful presence.

The Christian life is not easy. Some mistakenly assume that once they become children of God, their struggles are over. Many Christians begin their walk with Christ enthusiastically; but as the pressures mount, they lose heart and abandon their pilgrimage.

Paul described his Christian life as a battle. There were times when he struggled, and only through perseverance could he continue. It may surprise us to know that the great apostle had to struggle at times to be faithful to God. Paul faced persecution, misunderstanding, betrayal, and death threats. His Christian life was anything but easy, yet he persevered.

Your faith in God is not proven by beginning the race but by enduring to the finish. Publicly announcing your commitment to Christ in your church does not compare with a lifetime of devotion to His cause. Use Paul as your model. Live your life in such a way that you can one day conclude, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!"

(canaanland devotions)

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What a timely msg for me. As 314 ass #2 came to a conclusion today (thank God for sustaining me), I just don't feel like doing anything. Instead of studying for my test tmr, I allowed myself to get carried away by "research" for my ling project. To be honest, it's just a disguise for surfing and browsing the net, throughout the night...

I don't have to dig deep down memory lane to rmb how I almost always start well (sortof, at least with more energy n enthusiasm) but struggle to finish well (battery running low). Most of the time I find myself struggling to breathe, just pressing on day by day and clinging on to God as I inch towards the finish line. It's disheartening to find at the end of the line, an extension line awaiting me further down. And another, and yet another... and I start questioning "What in the world am I doing?"

Perhaps this is part of my vicious cycle that I need to break, that I need God to break. It's almost shameful that my race is nowhere near as "noble" as Paul's... but I guess at this age, this season's race been marked out for me and as they say "die die also must press on".

Thank God that even though I may not know where I'm going, God knows... I just need to trust Him and let Him lead me on...