Thursday, November 13, 2008

Finish Well Christian

I played football in high school and in the Air Force. In many ways I wasn’t that serious about it; it was always a game to me and I thought there was very little, if any, reason to get “serious” about football. The coaches told us to “finish well”. They told us “most games are won in the last quarter. Yes, come to think of it, they usually take the final score at the end of the fourth quarter.

As God’s plan plays out, how are we American Christians finishing the race? Jesus tells the Parable of the Ten Virgins (us, the Church) waiting for the Bridegroom (Christ) to return. (Matthew 25:1-5: “Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.”

In their waiting they begin to slumber and become drowsy then fall asleep. Notice the order. We “slumber” (lose focus, become disoriented, lack drive or vision) than we fall asleep (loss of consciousness). Are we like the virgins slumbering away our life? We need to finish well. Two people who finished well were Simeon and the Prophetess Anna. (Luke 2: 25-26, 36-38: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”

They both waited for the Messiah with expectation. They waited for the long expectant Jesus. We should wait with expectation for the second coming of Christ. When we live with expectation we are alert, looking ahead with anticipation for what is to come.

We have a choice in this life. Live out the rest of our days in a fog, probably even living in fear. Or we can live out the rest of our life being alert, anticipating what’s coming, living with excitement and expectation.

Dear Christian, let’s finish well. Why lead a boring life when we can wait for Christ’s return with hope, excitement and anticipation. Finish well; we are late into the fourth quarter.

New weekly feature to make us think and/or discuss;
Politically Incorrect Bible Verse of the Week:
Joel 3:10: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!"

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I think you have touched a nerve here brother. Why don't you just preach and quit meddling? We don't like to be stirred up, unless it about football or maybe politics.

Hmmmm, wait a minute. This is what you are addressing isn't it? Hmmm, I think I get it now. Yeap, I sure wish my Uncle Harry would read your blogs. I really think he needs it.

Have to run, the game is on and the chili is almost ready. Will check back later. Or on second thought, maybe I'll see you at the church social tomorrow.