Keys
to Finishing Well Part II[1]
II. Keep Focused
Years after his death, Tommy Armour
is still considered by many to be one of the greatest golf instructors ever.
His book, How to Play Your Best Golf All
the Time is a must-read for serious golfers. In it, Armour reveals the
secret to being the best golfer one can be. He writes, “It is not solely the
capacity to make great shots that makes champions, but the essential quality of
making very few bad shots.”[2]
Anyone has the capability to do
something extraordinary at least once in a while, but real winners are those
who remain attentive to their game and disciplined in their thoughts and
actions. The path to victory demands their total concentration and devotion.
They remain determined not to disqualify themselves through careless mistakes
and poor judgment. In the long run, staying focused and staying consistent is
the greater challenge.
The Apostle Paul was up to the
challenge. He viewed his entire life as a race, a race he did not intend to
lose. He wrote, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what
it should. Otherwise, I fear after preaching to others I myself might be
disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27, NLT). Apparently, his disciplinary techniques
worked. Near the end of his life, he wrote to Timothy, “I have finished the
race” (2 Timothy 4:7).
As we learned previously, Paul’s
mission in life was to influence as many as he could with the gospel of Christ.
He knew what a devastating blow would be dealt to that mission if he were not
to live out what he preached. Others who were once influenced by him would cast
him away and ignore his message. Even harder for Paul to hear would be standing
before His Savior and not hearing Him say, “Well done.” Obviously Paul was
serious about finishing well. Nothing-not even his old nature-was going to
stand in the way of him reaching his goal. Paul had his eyes on the prize.
The people of Judah also had their eyes
on a prize. But their prize was not quite as spiritual as Paul’s: it was success
against their enemies. As much as we might like to believe that every one of
those choir members praised God purely out of great love for Him, most likely
some, if not several, were motivated more by a simple desire to live another
day! Obedience to God was not only right and proper for them; it was necessary
for their survival.
In the earlier stages of our Christian
lives, our motivation for serving God is often for our own purposes. We have a
ladder to climb and personal goals to reach. We are driven by success. I’m not
saying that is necessarily bad. If by success we mean being all we can be for
God’s glory, then success is a wonderful goal. Having God’s hand on our lives
ensures that we develop into people God can use to the fullest extent on this
earth. Nonetheless, personal gain, no matter how pure our motives, is just
that-personal. At some point, we need to shift our focus from personal success
to seeking significance and striving
to make a lasting impact on our world and on others.
I don’t know about you, but a good
infusion of renewed passion and purpose is exactly what I need sometimes. It’s
not terribly difficult to focus on short-term ministry goals, such as preparing
for a Fall Festival, VBS, or a Bible study. Most of us can pull off some level
of consistency for a brief period of time. But let’s face it: having to be “up”
day in and day out for those who count on our Christian example can be very
challenging.
The writer of Hebrews 12:1-2 gives
us some important pointers that can help us keep focused on the long haul:
“Therefore,
since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay
aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run
with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
1. We must get rid of distractions.
Distractions
will take our attention off our goals. These act as weights that slow us down,
discourage, and even detour us. Satan has a whole bag of tricks designed to
distract and ensnare us. One is to place in our paths activities that seem
harmless or even helpful, but they are not the will of God for us. Notice also
that we are to “throw off…the sin that so easily entangles,” indicating that
the distraction could be a specific habitual sin. That “hidden fault” (Psalm
19:12) of our must go if we are to stay the course.
2. We must be disciplined when
others are not.
Discipline is
required to keep us focused. In the story of the tortoise and the hare, the
turtle was much slower than the rabbit, but the turtle set his pace and
ultimately won the race. Anybody can have a great start, but seasoned runners
know how to set a place that will allow them to remain consistent and energized
for the high hills and long stretches ahead. And while others are off having
fun, they stay committed to finish well.
3. We must have our focus directed
upward.
The direction of
our focus is obviously imperative. It helps to know which way we are supposed
to go! Our minds should be “on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians
3:2). Seeing Jesus and becoming like Him-that is our high calling, nothing more,
nothing less.
4. We must have divine
power.
Divine power is absolutely
required for us to focus and finish well. In fact, as stated in this passage,
we are not the “finisher” or “perfecter” of our faith-Jesus is. He started the salvation
process in us, and he alone will complete it. One of my favorite verses is
Phillipians 1:6: “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus
returns” (NLT).
John Corts, the
longtime chief operating officer of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,
said, “Christians aren’t meant to be driven. We are drawn.” He went on to
explain that what lies ahead for Christians should pull us toward heaven and
our Savior. We should not have to be pushed and prodded every week. In fact, if
we constantly need motivating and propping up just to get us to do what we are
called to do, then we have lost sight of heaven’s splendor.
The men of Judah
did not need someone standing behind them urging them to return to Jerusalem
from the battlefield. They went joyfully. And when they came into town, they
did not go first to their homes. They went straight to the Temple. They were
drawn to it because their first priority and first love was their Lord.
No one has to
tell a young man in love that he needs to call his girl and go see her.
Likewise, when we fall head over heels in love with Jesus, no one should have
to tell us to set our sights on him and talk to him every chance we get!
My
Daily Surrender
How has your
love life with the Lord been lately? How often do you talk to Him and read His
Word? What activities or thoughts compete for your attention and focus? Are you
discipling yourself to keep growing in your love for Him and in the talents and
opportunities He has given you?
No comments:
Post a Comment