Finishing StrongSample

Jesus Finished Strong

"Do not be lazy. Run each day's race with all your might, so that at the end you will receive the victory wreath from God. Keep on running even when you have had a fall. The victory wreath is won by him who does not stay down, but always gets up again, grasps the banner of faith and keeps on running in the assurance that Jesus is Victor." - Basilea Schlink

Jesus' whole assignment on earth was to finish the work his Father sent him to do, and he counted the cost before he took his first step in time. Jesus moved and operated with the end in mind. Every step, every word, every prayer, every miracle, every sermon was done with great resolve to finish. Jesus was motivated to finish because his sole purpose was to do the will of his Father. It was the Father's heart to save us, to have us draw near to him without the issues of sin, judgment, and condemnation. 

Jesus knew the Father's heart for us and kept that ever before him. He knew one day he must stare death in its face, be separated from the Father he loved so dearly, and literally become sin for us. Jesus counted the cost even though he knew his journey would be tough. He was talked about, scorned, mocked and ridiculed, misjudged and mistreated, falsely accused, beaten beyond recognition, and literally died of a broken heart in his assignment. If we sit and reason the sacrifice Jesus made for us, we would recognize he had many opportunities to stop short, to give up, and to turn his back on his assignment. But something kept him going. That was the desire to fulfill the desire of his Father's heart to save us. 

Jesus' ability to finish his assignment on earth would not only save us, but serve as proof to all humanity that God was real, and sent Jesus to save us. When we desire above all else to do the Father's will, we will be fueled to finish what we start, and in finishing strong we bear witness to others that God is real. For example, when facing hardships in your marriage, or days when money is running low, and the bills keep mounting. When the business venture is not profitable, or the ministry seems stunted in growth, but you keep holding onto the promises of God. When you keep smiling, keep trying with joy and peace, people around you will stop and take notice. They will give credit to God because of the fruit of your staying the course. 

Jesus was nourished by his Father's words. He desired to do the will of the Father. He also had a vision of what he would gain once his assignment was completed: to be reunited with his Father, sitting at his right hand, but also gaining us to spend eternity with him with no more fear, no more tears, no more pain and no more death. 

Jesus gained physical, emotional and mental strength to run his race to the finish because he kept his eye on the prize. Perhaps today you are caught in the web of having had a great start, but now the trials, obstacles, hardships, and torment is causing you to want to quit and walk away. I want to encourage you to keep your eyes on the prize and the end product. Keep your eyes on Jesus because he, along with the saints that have gone on ahead, is cheering you on. It might be dark, it might be lonely, but know that you are not alone. Keep your eyes on Jesus, remember how he finished, and know that you can finish also!