Finish Well

 

Retirees, and anyone close to retiring: Finish well!  Finish what well? Finish this life well!

OK, so how is this measured? And Who is it that's doing the measuring? Well let's see what the Bible has to say about finishing well.

In Matthew chapter 25 verse 21 we read that Jesus said Father God will be saying this "Well done good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your Lord", to those who finish well!

Well, the righteous will finish well, it says in Psalm 92 verses 12 to 15:

12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;

They shall be fresh and flourishing,

15 To declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Paul the apostle declared that he finished well.  It says in Second Timothy chapter 4 verses 6 to 8:

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

How about you and me? Well, what should we do? OK, since for everyone it's different, then let's ask Him what He wants each of us to do personally to finish well.

I'm writing this primarily to warn people not to retire and then coast for the rest of their lives. But I must also warn people not to wait until they retire to get busy with the Lord's work. And yes, He is gracious and merciful, even here as He answers us. Don't be afraid to ask, no matter how old you are, no matter how messed up your life is.

Let me repeat - let's ASK Him what He wants each of us to do personally to finish well.

Larry Carroll