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What are you saying Pastor,
That we should thank God each day for whatever is a part of
our lives?……..Yes
That we should trust in God sovereign leading even for the
tough times in life? Yes
That we should believe that our struggles as well as our
good times are part of a bigger picture that only he can
see?…..that’s right
That we should walk in faith even if it looks very dark in
the faith that He is the light at the end of the tunnel?…..
Indeed!
Let me be a little personal here….
I actually spent a lot of my earlier adult life wishing that
my life was something other than what it was. I was sure that
where I was on any given day, didn’t really count because it
was just a stepping stone to get to the next day. In a way
that’s true, but taken to it’s logical extreme it left me in a
constant state of inner dissatisfaction as only my wife can
really attest.
As I really came to believe the theology that this life is
really just preparation for the next life, and the events of
this life are ever so carefully monitored by a sovereign God
who going to make absolutely sure that “everything that
enters my life comes out to my good” It has become
increasingly easier to deal with issues in life that just
didn’t work out the way I would have planned them. In fact I
have found myself this last few months going back over issues
that brought great pain into my life and actually sincerely
thanking God for them. I wasn’t thanking him, at least not
sincerely, when they were taking place, but now I can begin to
see how they were working to mold me into his character.
As you begin to slow Down and practice solitude
the joy of the Lord seeps back into your life, You begin
to practice humility focusing more outward instead of
inward, you begin to sharpen your focus by removing the
distractions in your life and you concentrate on keeping in
step with God or walking in the Spirit, the Spirit leads
you to increasingly shun sin and order your heart……..
The logical Christian response is to begin to relax in God’s
sovereign care and Embrace God’s path for your life!
I don’t believe that what I’m giving you are unconnected
suggestions, a smorgasbord of ideas that you should take a
little helping of some and reject others. I really believe that
these eight points (along with the next two), put together,
will lead us to a level of spiritual growth that many of us
have not experienced before.
I had somebody say to me this week that something was
changing in me, “What is it” they asked. I’m telling you; I am
making a concentrated effort to implement these points in my
own life and I can can tell a distinct change is starting to
take place.
I. Running the marathon… to the end!
A) Finish well!
Anything you have done in life, that was a monumental
undertaking for you, you know that it wasn’t the starting of
the race that defined you, it was the finishing. Lots of people
start a marathon, many don’t get to the end. The beginning is
fun; the hype, the adrenalin, the spotlight of attention; but
somewhere along the race you get to the point of what runners
call “hitting the wall”. Pleasure becomes drudgery, drudgery
becomes hard labor, and the temptation to stop is overwhelming.
Life is like that!! Even for the Christian life is a
marathon…You are moving toward a specific goal. Everyone who
crosses the finish line will receive an eternal reward. It
isn’t going to be particularly important who gets there first,
or who runs with the most grace…
But you must finish and finish well!!!
B) Run with Perseverance
Crossing the finish line means you have to persevere in the
middle of the race when your lungs are crying our for air (
Some of your life circumstances have you gasping for air right
now; please, please, can’t I just stop?… No! When the runner
“hit’s the wall” and pushes on the second wind comes and the
finish lie gets closer and closer.
You give it everything you have from one end to the other!!!
Illustration:
A wife says to her husband of fifty years as they lie in bed
one night, “When we were young you used to hold my hand each
night.” Slowly his hand reached our to find hers.
She went on, “And when we were young you used to snuggle up
against me in bed”. A little more slowly, her husband’s body
creaked and turned until it nestled against hers.
She continued, “When we were young you used to nibble on my
ear”. Abruptly the covers are thrown back, and the man lurches
out of bed. “Where are you going”, she asked a little hurt?
To get my teeth!!!! He said.
You must finish well! The start of the race is enjoyable,
Finishing is hard work.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us.
II. Running the Race through Hardship
Think with me here…. I’m encouraging us all to run the race
to the end… I’m encouraging us to run the race with
perseverance. The very idea that I suggest that you have to
persevere indicates that some of the time you are going to be
swimming in syrup.
How do you develop perseverance??
If I were to ask each of you individually in this room to
define for all the rest of us which times in your life formed
the most spiritual growth in you…. Most of you….probably all of
you would recount times of testing when you were off balance
and you didn’t have both feet firmly planted, and you were
swimming in syrup.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1:2-4 NIV)
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