Finding the Finish Line

Finding the Finish Line

Every life is like a marathon. There is a beginning and an end with markers along the way. A good marathon runner will not begin the race looking 41.3 kilometers down the road. He will strive to successfully make it to the first marker and then the next until the race is completed. His race is a bunch of shorter races. When each goal has been achieved he finds he has run the full marathon successfully.

Life is like that. We are born and we die. We do not start out looking to the end. We start by looking to the markers along the way. Some of life’s markers are starting school, turning 13, learning to drive, graduating from school, career, marriage, age 40 and finally retirement.

God has given us markers. These markers are not established by society, but rather His plan for our life. He lays out the race for us. It is our responsibility to identify the course and to follow it from one marker to the next. When we do, we will find that we have run a bunch of short races that accomplish the marathon of life in Christ.

How can we identify the markers along the way? How can we successfully reach these markers? There are five principles to guide and empower us. These principles are interconnected and build upon each other. If you approach them out of order you will not progress in the race of life.

1. Ponder: We must take time to be in God’s Word and ponder the truths that we find there. The Bible gives us our basic instructions for life and lays out the rules for godly living. The Bible helps us to sort out the things that are right from the things that are wrong. As the Word feeds our souls and fills our minds our decision making will begin to align with God’s Word. Along life’s highway we will face many choices and we need to be equipped to make the right decision.

2. Prayer: Prayer connects us to the living God. There we take our questions to Him and seek to hear from Him. Often it is His Word that we have pondered that will come back to us and give us the answer to our questions. Sometimes it is His still soft voice. Too often people put prayer at the end of something instead of at the beginning. We cry out “God get me out of this” instead of beginning with “God direct my steps today.” Pondering God’s Word and prayer are critical to reaching life’s markers in Christ.

3. Passion: Many seek to get passion through exciting events our uplifting fellowship. Encouragement is necessary along the way, but this does not develop passion. Such events may spark an interest that leads you to ponder and pray. Passion is the result of a life in God’s Word and in prayer. God establishes in us the passions we have. Our passions are indicators that point us to the next marker in life. God wants us to be passionate about our ministry. God wants us to serve where our passions lie. This is how He directs us to fulfill His will and purpose on earth.

4. Power: Power comes from God when a person has been in His Word and in prayer. Power comes when passion has begun to burn and brings focus to our journey. The power is His Spirit strengthening and equipping us to succeed for Him. God does not indiscriminately give power. You do not start with power and then passion. You start with the Bible, prayer, and when passion grows, power comes.

5. Purpose: When you have been in the Word of God and are praying. When passion has arisen and power has been given, your purpose will be clear. Then reaching the marker will be achievable.

Too often people design a plan, seek empowerment, and hope to gain passion. Then they will pray for God to bless their plan and seek Scripture to back up their plan. That is all backwards. We must start in His Word. We must be praying, seeking answers to our questions and desiring to hear from Him. God gives us the passion that wells up in our hearts. Power comes to the willing and prepared. Purpose comes into focus when we are ready to achieve the goal God has laid before us.

I ask you to ponder that as you seek to serve God.