Finish your Course, Keep the Faith

I looked in the dictionary for the definition of the word “closure“, it was simple,” the stopping of a process or activity”. Is that what it is when we seek to make sense from the madness that ends a life or a relationship? Closure? Is that what it was when Jesus was hanging on the Cross, with the weight of the sins of the world on his head? I think a lot about things that have transpired recently, mass murders in places of worship leaving loved one to have to deal with closing accounts for people now dead, cleaning out desks and closets, talking to bill collectors trying to get a final payment from the account of the deceased. Seeing shoes that are shaped to the person’s foot that stepped out of them so recently, clothes that still carry the scent of their favorite after fragrance.

In our lives we carry the “remains of the day” with us on a daily basis, and what good does that do? I read to find how we should “finish”things.

Jesus said to God, John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do”Jesus knew that His time was short and He had made sure that He had finished the work that the Father had assigned to Him.

When the Apostle Paul saw that his time was coming to an end, he wrote to Timothy, 2Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

I spoke with a person today that is having a rough time in a certain situation, they said, “I am trying to not lose faith in God.”That made me feel so sad. How many times have you taken a child to the doctor for their inoculation, you hate it, don’t want to do it but it is for their own good. If we believe in God in the good times, why is it that we are so willing to turn our backs when He is doing something “for our own good?”God doesn’t let us go into the desert to find out who we are, He already knows, He does it so wecan find out who we are! If you were slipping off a high place and had hold of a rope you would hold onto it for dear life, hoping you could hold on long enough to be rescued, so what is wrong with enduring a test or trial of your faith? You don’t have to hope for a rescue, it is already on the way!

Finish your course, and keep the faith.

God turned His back on Jesus when He was on the Cross, but He was raised from the dead! If you are on a cross today do what Jesus did, know that you have finished the course on what ever it is you are trying to do, you have prayed as much as you could, even if you have been betrayed. John 19:30 He said “It is finished” and bowing His head, gave up his Spirit.

Ephesians 6:13-18 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. I have come here today, not to tell you about enduring hard times, but about the victory that will be yours when you do!

Finish your course, and keep the faith!