Pastor's Ponderings, April 18, 2016

The Finisher’s Medal

On Saturday, my youngest daughter and I ran the Kona Cheesecake Run, a five-mile race.  Other than the overwhelming satisfaction of completing the race, we got a great t-shirt, an awesome medal and some delicious cheesecake. As I looked at the cheesecake shaped medal, I noticed the words printed “finisher.”  It did not tell the speed or pace, it did not declare a winner, nor did it indicate the place of the runner.  It just said “finisher.”

It is great to know that God has a plan for each of us to finish what He started and He wants to give us our “finisher” medal.  He created us and laid out all of our moments before we were born (Psalm 139:16).  He left nothing to chance, creating us marvelously and wondrously (Psalm 139:14). 

He arranged all of life for the good of all of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). The strongest or the fastest people may not win but those who endure to the end will receive God’s salvation (Matthew 24:13).  Only those who remain faithful to God until the end will win God’s reward (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

We can feel great knowing that we will finish our course in life with God. Like Paul, those who love God can one day say that we have fought the good fight, we have finished our course and now we can receive the crown that is waiting for us at the finish line (2 Timothy 4:7-8). 

Psalm 139:16
New Living Translation (NLT)

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:14
New Living Translation (NLT)

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Romans 8:28
New Living Translation (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Matthew 24:13
New Living Translation (NLT)

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

2 Timothy 4:7-8
New Living Translation (NLT)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.