[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Keep your eyes on the finish line

Read: 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

Meditation verse:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2  Timothy 4:7).

Several years ago, I participated in a parent’s race during the annual sports event  of my children’s school. About five mothers came out to the starting point to  participate. The whistle went off and we began the race as our children cheered  us on. I gave it my all and soon I was right ahead of the others. As I continued  running, I noticed a group of people standing together close to the end of the  field. Mistaking that for the finish point, I stopped by the group. The other  women who were far behind me ran past me and got to the finish point. I had  gotten distracted from the real finish line by the group of individuals. 

I pondered on the day’s event as I drove back home with the children and  wondered at how I failed to reach the finished line because of a slight  distraction. Not everyone who begins a race gets to the finished line. Some  runners lose their balance and fall by the way, some get distracted, others  become too weary to continue. Those who finish strong are the ones who never  take their gaze off the finish line. Similarly in the race of life, some people get  distracted by the cares of this present world, others become weary from fighting  the battles of life, still yet many do not even get started. 

The apostle Paul kept his eyes on the finish line and ended well. In discharging  his apostolic mandate, he completed three long missionary journeys, planted at  least 14 churches, wrote 13 of the New Testament books and endured some of  the toughest conditions, persecutions, and trials. And then he gave his  valedictory speech in 2 Timothy 4:7- 8, “I have fought the good fight, I have  finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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”. Keep your  eyes on the finish line, so that you can end well and receive your crown.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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