Finishing

Finishing

MY QUESTION for GOD

What can inspire me to finish well?

A MOMENT with GOD

The years passed, and the Lord had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old, called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, “I am now a very old man. You have seen everything the Lord your God has done for you during my lifetime. The Lord your God has fought for you against your enemies. I have allotted to you as your homeland all the land of the nations yet unconquered, as well as the land of those we have already conquered—from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. This land will be yours, for the Lord your God will himself drive out all the people living there now. You will take possession of their land, just as the Lord your God promised you. So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left. . . . Cling tightly to the Lord your God as you have done until now.”

Joshua 23:1-8

As the years take a toll on our bodies, it is painful to realize that we no longer possess the physical abilities or the energy we used to have. As old age settles in, the wrinkles, aches, and pains make us realize that our lives are nearing their final chapter. It’s even more painful when we see the rest of the world dismissing the elderly as though their earthly contributions are finished. When Joshua was an old man, he demonstrated that older believers can be a powerful witness to the persistent mercy and faithfulness of God. There are few things as powerful as the testimony of someone who has lived a long life of faithfulness to the Lord and still sees a vibrant vision of an eternal God who keeps his promises. Younger people who hear the life stories of such Christians will be greatly impacted by learning of the faithfulness God has shown them through the decades. If you are younger, find an older believer who can tell you about God’s faithfulness in his life. Be prepared to hear some amazing stories! If you are older, commit yourself to finishing well. Demonstrate being faithful to God to the end—your story will become a divine moment in the lives of those who follow you.

DIVINE PROMISE

I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6