Finishing StrongSample

Finishing Declares Genuineness

"If I fail, I try again, and again, and again. If YOU fail, are you going to try again? The human spirit can handle much worse than we realize. It matters HOW you are going to FINISH. Are you going to finish strong?"~ Nick Vujicic

The wisest king that lived, other than Jesus, said, "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride."-(Ecclesiastes 7:8 NIV). When we ponder this thought, there is so much depth that lies within. Today, when we look around, it seems like every month there is a new line of clothing, bags, shoes, new miracle-working pills, slimming equipment, or countless cheap do-it-yourself gadgets. The infomercials and commercials are endless. But after a few months, we lose interest only to find something new is on the market. When we look at the designer labels we know they get their title not only from their price but because they have been around for years. They have worked hard and long to create a brand that can be trusted. Their products are long-lasting and reliable. After many products have come and gone, these designers stand the test of time, proving them to be genuine. So too, it is with believers. When we stay the course, keep our eyes on Jesus and count the cost, then our lives declare to the world that the Jesus we serve is real. 

Anything that is counted as real and has excellent value must always pass a test. For example, let's take two students attending college. They attended all the classes, but one of them decides not to take the final exam that would give him his certificate. The other does the exam and passes. Even though the person who didn't do the exam might know all the information to get a good job, without proof of passing the test, his education may not be real. When we look at the precious metal of gold, it goes through the melting process. According to UCSB ScienceLine, "The gold is heated in a furnace with silica, borax and soda ash which soaks up most of the impurities, forming a slag which rises to the top of the furnace while the heavier gold settles to the bottom." You see that even though the gold is gold, unless it goes through the furnace of testing of its genuineness and purity, the gold will never be seen. 

A test of time, trials, persecutions, delays, and obstacles are all considered "time in the furnace", but as we see from the above testing, it is always necessary to show value and the genuineness. As we read through the pages of the Bible repeatedly, all the men went through great testing, trials, and persecution. Through it all, they have finished strong because they counted the cost, kept their eyes on their God, and still today the nation of Israel stands to prove to the world they are the nation separated unto God. 

The Apostle Paul urged us to get rid of the heavy weight of sin or impurities that have only the ability to weigh us down – (Hebrews 12:1 - 2 NIV). He also encouraged us not to get tired in the journey but to keep doing good because the reward that awaits us is greater than the troubles we face in the present. Jesus received the reward of the souls he died for.  The Apostle Paul received Jesus as his prize and added more souls to the kingdom of God. Today you can also receive Jesus, his strength, his grace, his mercy, his anointing, his wisdom, and his endurance to finish strong!