“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” ~2 Timothy 4:7
My mind wandered more and more each day as the time ticked away to the end of the school year and the beginning of summer. While I was a straight-A student, there was a tempting freedom that summer held to distract me from giving my best effort. When the end of the semester drew near, my dad always encouraged me to "Finish strong."
As a young student, I had little else to worry about aside from my studies, but as an adult, the list of concerns grows by the day: staying healthy, spending dedicated time with God, house and car repairs, coming up with fun ideas for my spouse and me to do, etc. Accomplishing these things feels great, but once you finish them, are you "finished" finished? No, you have to keep eating healthy, keep fixing your car, and keep planning trips otherwise you and your relationships will fall into ruin. The same goes for the Christian journey; it is only completed on this earth once Jesus returns to us or we return to Him.
We all face a temptation to take a break not for the sake of recuperation but to merely give in to our slothful desires. Whether from work, a healthy lifestyle, family responsibilities, or even our time with God, we're all tempted to drift away under the assurance it's for our benefit, and we'll return in due time. Peter warns us against this foolishness: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). You should always find rest in the Lord but never rest from the Lord. And when you are feeling weak, keep in mind that it is a good thing because with your weakness comes an opportunity to find power in the Lord! Paul encourages us, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor 12:10).
The next time you feel like coasting toward a finish line... don't do it. Finish strong. You'll be glad you did.
Always improve the present moment.
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