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Finish Strong

I just finished a study through the book of Second Timothy.  This is Paul’s final letter and contains, in effect, his last will and testament.  Paul writes to Timothy about the need to be diligent in carrying on the faith.  He instructs him to remain faithful to teaching the word.  He encourages him to be strong.  He challenges him to pour into others who are able to do the same.

Throughout the letter, Paul expresses concern to Timothy about the tenuous status of the faith.  Times were difficult for the church with attacks coming from false teachers on the inside and the Roman government on the outside.  Paul knew he would soon give his life as a final sacrifice.  Timothy would need to reach out and firmly take hold of the baton that Paul was extending to him.

Then, in the midst of this flurry of challenges and commands, Paul reflects for just a moment on his life.  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  2 Timothy 4:7

No regrets.  No, “I wish I would of…”  No, “If only I had…”  He was finishing well.  He was finishing strong.  As Paul neared the end of his time on earth he knew that he had accomplished what God had placed before him.  A similar thought is found in the book of Acts referring to King David.  “…after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died…”  Acts 13:36

As followers of Christ, we are involved in a long distance race.  The goal is not to blaze a trail – it is to stay on course.  It is not to run fast – it is to complete the race.  It is not to start strong – it is to finish strong.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

The Walk of a Lifetime

In one of my earlier trips through the Bible, I was captured by the manner in which Enoch’s story jumps off the pages of God’s Word.

 

Genesis Chapter 5 presents a family tree taking us from Adam to Noah.  As we travel through the years, a repetitive, if not boring, pattern emerges.  First we read the father’s name.  Next we read how old he was when he had his first son.  We then read how many more years he lived and the fact that he had other sons and daughters.  Finally we read about his death.

 

Then, all of a sudden, we are introduced to generation number seven.  A man named Jared has a son named Enoch.  Jared’s story is predictable, but then we read about his son.  Here is what we find in Genesis 5:21-24.

 

“When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.  And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.  Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years.  Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

 

As I consider what it means to walk with God, I think about what Paul taught us in Galatians 5:25.  “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  This manner of walking with God is active.  We’re not talking about a casual stroll, but rather an intentional, day-by-day, step-by-step journey with God.

 

This is what caught me when I read this passage previously.  Enoch didn’t just live; he walked with God.  While this is an incredible statement, what caught me this time is something totally different.

 

Looking at Genesis 5, we find that most of these guys lived into their 900’s before dying.  However, when Enoch was a mere 365, God took him away.  Enoch wasn’t even half as old as most of the other men listed when he was taken.  Here is a statement signifying what was impressed on me.

 

Walking with God for half a lifetime is better than a whole lifetime without Him.

 

Think about it.  Enoch was only middle-aged, but what stands out about his life is that he walked with God.  As you consider all the things that might have been said about him, the fact that he walked with God is what the Bible records.  And all this from the man who left the earth early compared to those that came before him and those that followed.

 

I pray that my life, no matter how long or short it is, would be characterized by walking with God.