Starting well is easy finishing well is the challenge.
Taking a careful and meticulous count of all the names inthe Bible from Genesis to Revelation, 2,930 names would have been recorded. By the time the analysis is completed and the frequency table is established it would be discovered that only 133 finished the race but only 30 finished well.
Because human beings appear to be suffering form incurable disease of sins which is faster and ruthless in transmission to others and terminal in consequence than AIDS, an initial higher percentage of godly and righteous people during the days of Noah were quickly lost to ungodliness through intermarraige and interaction with few sinful ones. To save the only last righteous man, Noah, from being corrupted, the Lord had to move fast in carrying out a mass execution of human race through the 40 days deluge. Starting well is finishing well in the challenge.
The house of Jacob in their hundreds of thousands from the land of bondage in Egypt across the red sea were jubilant and zealously determined on the pilgrimage to the promised land but only two finished well. Once again the lord had to carry out a mass execution of hundreds of thousands in the wilderness to avert the contermination of the subsequent generation by the virus of ungodliness, impatience, idolatry, fornaication... and to serve as a warning for the current terminal generation. 1 Cor. 10:1-11.
But as this terminal generation learnt anything yet? NO
But Peter of old, the son of Jonah was able to finish well- 2 Peter 1:13-14 and Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ was able to say confidently in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the Crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” To finish well and earn the crown of righteousness, Paul the apostle advances three imperatives in 1 Cor. 9:24-27 and in 2 Tim. 2:2-16
First, you must be committed to Excellence; committed to definite unmovable goal and your total focus must be anchored permanently on this Goal. It must be an excellent goal – a Gold Medal and not settling your ambition for Bronze medal otherwise you will end up with nothing more than a certificate of participation – a lost race. The gold medal is the imperishable - the Crown of Salvation; for “the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field.” When a wise man found the field, in his joy, went and sold all the had and bought the field.” Matt. 13:44. A number of believers, even Ministers of God had started well on coming into contact with the Lord Jesus Christ; devoting all their strength to prayer, words of God fasting and divine love. But like a seed falling into a thorny ground, their focus is subsequently shifted to a bronze medal – acquisition of houses, wealth, women, power, fame and honor; the ephemeral of life. Most of them are therefore unable to finish while only a handful of the few that manage to finish the race succeed in finishing well. No soldier fighting a war gets entangled in civilian affairs without losing the war and displeasing his commander. 2 Tim. 2:4. How are you sure that you will live in that house you are building with dishonest fund; Prov. 8:28. How are you that the wealth you are amassing at the expense of other people suffering, fraudulently or otherwise are not for others. Ecl. 2:13-14, Luke 12:15-20. But you should know that the promiscuous are destroyers of their own Souls and eternity. Prov. 6:32, 1 Cor. 13-20. To finish well there must be total commitment to excellence. Starting well is easy but finishing well is the challenge.
The second Imperative given by Paul is Integrity. “ I put my body under subjection” Integrity is the root of Character. Those who preserve their integrity remain unshakeable by the storm of daily life. They do not stir like leaves on a tree or follow the herd where it runs. In their mind remains the fear of God, the inconsequentiality of human position, the ideal attitude and the righteous conduct of living. It is their roots; it is a root that exists deep within them. It is not something borrowed or given to them by others. Alarmingly, the integrity of a number of believers is determined and defined by who is involved, what is at stake and what is to be gained or lost!!! They are worthless in the congregation of Saints. Remember the integrity is only one of many paths but it is the only but it is the only one that terminates in enduring success, glory and without regret. It is a thorny, turbulent and unpopular path but follow it says the biblical Joseph Genesis 37-41. Other paths are of only transient joy, the end is perdition. Proverbs 16:25. Remember that Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah started very well, with his energy devoted entirely to pleasing God but at the very tail end of his life went into alliance with Ahaziah, the sinful king of Israel. The Lord then said unto him: “your work before me is destroyed” 2 Chronicles 20:35. In embracing integrity as your essence, watch your thoughts, for they become your words; choose your words, for they become your action; understand your action for they become your habits; study your habits for they become your character; develop your character for it determines your integrity; maintain your integrity for it becomes your destiny. Starting well is easy finishing well is the challenge.
The third imperative enunciated by Paul is total submission to Patience and Perseverance. These are the two greatest Victors of all seasons. “Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ for here is a trustworthy saying: if we died with Him, we will also live Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we disown Him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful; for He cannot disown Himself” 2 Tim. 2:11-13. Your level of endurance is tribulation, persecution for righteousness and enduring patience in the Lord provide the barometer for your spiritual maturity and level of faith. For one thing is certain, the crown is never won without war; Salvation is never achieved without tribulation- it is the means of identifying you with Christ and providing you with the credential of His Grace. For Christ says in mark 9:49 “everyone will be seasoned with fire. Also the book of holy Koran states clearly in Chapter 3: 136-143 “Do you think that you will enter the kingdom of Heaven without your faith being tested with tribulation, hardship and patience?
Eighty- two disciples were appointed by our Lord Jesus Christ 12 + 70), only twelve finished the race and only eleven finished well. You are for-warned by the apostle in Acts 14:22 “ Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships and tribulation to enter the Kingdom of God, they said”.
Brethrens in Christ, I encourage in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to rededicate yourself to the fear of God and love to all mankind; renewing your determination to finish the race well. “ Make every effort to add to your faith goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control and to self control, perseverance, godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if you do this things you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2 Peter 1:5-10
As you find time to read this message may God bless you and make you a blessing unto the world.