ENDURANCE- the key to finishing well!

This picture is of Debi and me after I completed the NY City Marathon in 1992 (14 years ago, we were young once). The yellow hat was so she could spot me out of the 20,000 people that ran that day. I had run 4 marathons previously. Yes, I finished all of them.

One of the things that I received at the marathon was a T-shirt. Believe it or not, I still have it or what’s left of it. The shirt had the following written on it:

ENDURANCE - The ability to withstand hardship, adversity or stress, i.e. NY City Marathon.

It was true then and is still so true now. That phrase has always been an inspiration to me. I trust it will be to you also.

The Apostle Paul saw life as a race- not a sprint but a marathon. It doesn’t matter how fast you start but it does matter that you finish! It takes endurance to succeed in ministry. In fact, endurance is needed in every area of life.

2 Tim. 4:1-5 TMB

I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the judge. With the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.

You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you have doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.

Paul went on to tell Timothy to take over for him as he was finishing his race. He was ready for the crown, God’s applause and the shouting (TMB)!

All of us are in that race! How you finish is going to determine what is remembered about you!

Be encouraged, don’t give up- as I have thought about doing a few times, but finish what God has for you to do. Then you too will hear the shouting and God’s applause; not here but there!

After all, isn’t that where it really matters for all of eternity?