Finish

Readings for today: Nehemiah 11-13, Psalms 126

This past weekend, the church I serve held its annual “Celebrate Missions Weekend.” It’s a powerful time where we focus on not only celebrating what God has done over the last year through our many mission partners around the world but also look forward to the day when the great task of evangelism and mission will be finished. The gospel taken to every nation. Jesus preached in every language to every people group. There is no better feeling than accomplishing a great task for God. It could be the planting of a new church. Building a new church building. Launching an evangelistic crusade. Starting a medical clinic in an impoverished area. Building wells to give people access to clean water. Teaching people how to plant gardens to provide food security. We heard about all these things and more over the course of our time together and that’s why we celebrate. We want to honor and praise God for all He has done in and through us. I imagine the nation of Israel felt similarly when they finally finished the wall.

Completing the wall would have meant so much to them. First and foremost, it would have pointed them to the faithfulness of God. God is the one who made this happen. God is the one who laid it on the heart of Nehemiah to build the wall. God is the one who moved the heart of the pagan emperor to provide materials and resources. God is the one who protected them from their enemies along the way. Second, completing the wall would’ve signified safety and security. Now the people could build their homes and businesses without fear. Now they could begin to plan for their future. Now they could rebuild their city and reclaim their national identity. Third, completing the wall would have sent a signal to all their enemies. No longer would Israel be a doormat. No longer would they be an easy mark. No longer would they be at their mercy. The wall was a powerful symbol in addition to being a physical monument.

Now consider your own life. Consider the great things God has called you to. Consider the great plans God has for you. Consider all God wants to accomplish through you. Does anything come to mind? Can you look back and see some of the milestones you’ve hit along the way? If not, I encourage you to seek the Lord. Ask Him to show you what He wants you to do for Him. All of us have a calling on our life. All of us have a God-sized plan for our life. Something only God Himself can accomplish in and through us. Perhaps you know what God wants you to do but you’ve hesitated to take that step of faith. Don’t hold back! Don’t wait any longer! Step into the future God has for you! Perhaps you find yourself right in the middle of God’s plan. Perhaps you’re feeling stretched beyond your resources. Perhaps you’re coming to the end of your strength. These can be great signs that you are right where God wants you. Keep pressing in. Keep wading in. Keep it going. God is with you! He who began this great work in and through you will bring it to completion!

Readings for tomorrow: Psalms 106, John 1:4-14

Finishing Strong

Readings for today: 1 Kings 10-11, 2 Chronicles 9, Proverbs 30-31

We are running an event at my church called “Finishing Strong.” It’s designed to equip believers who are 55+ to finish well in life and in faith. To use the latter years of their life to invest in the Kingdom of God. So many in my country spend their whole lives trying to retire early. There’s nothing wrong with this goal except that so many struggle to find purpose in their retirement. There’s only so much golf one can play. There’s only so many trips one can take. Eventually boredom sets in. Retirement, in this sense, is not biblical. Yes, the elders in Scripture handed over their businesses to their children at a certain point and took their seat at the city gate but it wasn’t to spend their days gossiping and drinking wine. They played a vital role in the ongoing health and welfare of their community. They were a source of great wisdom to the generations that followed them. They offered advice on any manner of things. They continued to invest in those who came after them. In fact, the worst thing you could do to a community in those days was rob them of their elders.

“When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.” (1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Solomon failed to finish strong. He refused to listen to godly counsel and his kingdom began to fall apart in the latter part of his reign. Enemies began to circle him. Enemies from without and enemies from within. Rather than repent and return to the Lord, Solomon doubled down. The seeds were sown for a civil war that would result in great loss of life and the division of the kingdom. It’s a heartbreaking legacy and a sober reminder to us all. We never get too old to follow God. We never age out of discipleship. Our latter years are just as important as our younger years and the Lord pays attention to how we spend them.

It’s never too early to begin considering how you will spend the final decades of your life. Perhaps you are on a trajectory to retire early. My brother just retired from teaching at age 50. If he remains in good health, he will probably have another 30-40 years left of life. He and I recently talked about how he would spend those years. Where can he find meaning and purpose? Where can he invest himself? As a pastor, I’ve had hundreds of these conversations over the years. It’s striking to me how many people retire without a plan. Not necessarily a financial plan. Most have those if they are choosing to opt out of the workforce. No, I’m talking about a plan for where they will invest their time and energy and talent. A plan to find meaning and purpose and pour into the next generation. As Solomon’s example demonstrates, it’s easy to become distracted. It’s easy to find your heart turning towards other gods. It’s easy to waste the final years of your life. What plan are you making right now to finish strong?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10

Finishing Strong

Readings for today: 1 Kings 11-13, Psalms 97

“When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord his God, as his father David had been.” (1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

A long obedience in the same direction. That’s how the late pastor and author and scholar, Eugene Peterson, once described the Christian life. It’s a path we choose to walk in this life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t translate into perfection. It doesn’t mean we will stop sinning. It doesn’t mean we will never put a foot out of line or wander down some rabbit trail. It simply means that on balance, we set the course of our lives towards one goal. One destination. One finish line and that is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

As we read the Bible, we see so many start well but eventually fall. We see them raised up by God only to fall into sin later in their lives. We’ve seen it over and over again in the lives of Aaron and Miriam and Gideon and Samson and David and many others. We see it in Rehoboam and Jeroboam who both come after Solomon. We’ll see it in the lives of several kings over the next few weeks. The message is clear. It’s hard to finish strong. It’s hard to remain faithful. It’s hard to keep walking in obedience over the long haul in the same direction.

Solomon became distracted. He married hundreds of women in an attempt to build alliances with the nations around him and pacify the region. He was largely successful but he also became distracted from his most important calling as a king. He was to remain faithful to God and serve God’s people. Rehoboam grew up watching his father. He saw his dad enslave entire people groups. Build incredible cities. Amass great wealth and power. He wanted to do the same. In fact, like any spoiled child, he felt he was entitled to it. So he decided to become even more of a tyrant than his father. He too forgot his most important calling which was to remain faithful to God and serve God‘s people. Jeroboam was anointed by God to be king after Solomon. He was literally given the vast majority of the nation of Israel. Ten tribes would go with him when he split the kingdom. But he became afraid. What would happen when they went back to the Temple in Jerusalem? Would they abandon him? Would they return to the line of David? Out of fear, he commits idolatry and sets up his own priestly system complete with its own sacrifices and shrines and temples and idols. He forgot his most calling which was to remain faithful to God and serve God’s people.

One of my most frequent prayers is to finish strong. I want to finish my life and my ministry in faithfulness. I don’t want there to be even a hint of scandal. I don’t want anyone to ever say Doug fell at the end. Started serving himself. Started drifting from his most important calling. Started loving other things more than he loved God. I’ve been blessed in my life with tremendous opportunities and tremendous resources and an incredible family and an amazing church to serve but I don’t ever want to take these things for granted. So I ask God with regularity to keep me humble. Keep me in my place. Help me to always have a heart to serve rather than be served and seek first His Kingdom above all. What about you?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Kings 14-16, Psalms 98 (No devotionals on Sundays)