FINISHING WELL isn't always about where you finish but how you finish.
Derek Redmond—a British sprinter, had undergone eight surgical operations in four years.
At the 1992 Summer Olympics, he qualified for the 400m semi-final with the fastest time.
Derek looked strong until he suddenly tore his hamstring. Rather than fall to the ground, he continued to hobble toward the finish line but did not finish the race alone.
Jim—Derek's father, ran from the stands to join him on the tracks. With tears in their eyes, they finished the race together as they received a standing ovation from a crowd of 65000 people.
The image of father and son not quitting is one of finishing well.
The Narrative
THE BIBLE describes the Christian walk as the race of life. (Hebrews 12:1)
2 Peter 1:5-6 advises that you make every effort to add to your faith, goodness and goodness, knowledge and knowledge, self-control and self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness.
If you have these qualities, you will be useful and productive in the knowledge of Christ.
Endurance the mainstay
WHEN LIFE causes you to take a painful tumble, perseverance keeps you from quitting.
The account of Jesus Christ describes this well.
Hebrews 12:2 says, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus pushed through the pain points to finish well, and when it looked like a stunning defeat, his endurance brought a standing ovation in the bleaches of heaven.
And now, you have all you need to finish well.
Faith is the start
PETER SAYS, add to your faith, goodness—finishing well begins with faith.
After all, without faith, it's impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
It's the starting point and the finishing line; it matures in adversity.
Faith makes you look at challenges in the face and turn trials into triumphs.
It pushes you to know things beyond the material world—it contains the idea of mystery.
It results in faithfulness and makes you persevere in chaos. Therein, you find wisdom.
But where do you place your faith? In God or men?
God warns you not to put your faith in man. (Jeremiah 17:5-9)
But it isn't enough to know what faith is except you have a place to practice it.
And the place to exercise your faith is in trials.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
(James 1:3-4)
God will allow things into your life to test you, and a fully developed faith will exhibit patience.
Faith is the testing ground where patience perseveres; when it matures, wisdom comes with it.
The great thing about wisdom is that it helps you embrace the things that God has for you and makes you move victoriously toward the finish line.
BRINGING IT TOGETHER
PERSEVERANCE is a virtue everyone admires. It makes the cause you're pursuing worthwhile and gives you hope.
Hope is a faithful leg to stand on—a guarantee that you'll surely win.
And now that you're running in the race of life, it's in your best interest to finish well.
Happy New Year.