Faith that Finishes

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 is the 322nd day of the year and for many of us it falls within a period of reflection and contemplation over what we have or have not accomplished in the past precious months. Think back to January, February or even March of this year. How fresh, bright and full of potential our goals, aspirations and projects appeared to be! Work directed to these tasks felt almost effortless as we face challenge after challenge with renewed enthusiasm for an expected and glorious end. For some of us it was the long, hot days of summer labour, while for others it proved the incessant reminders of investments and earnings lost, that somehow turned our eyes from our ultimate goals to our disconcerting present circumstance. If we are honest, some of us are dangerously close to losing sight of a God inspired vision and the person will to finish. I wasn’t so sure if I should share this, but my mother tells me to always speak to people from the heart and that people will in turn receive with their hearts. For most of my adult life I have suffered from bouts of mild to serious depression. As a Christian, I have been on the receiving end of much well intentioned admonishment that depression was a sign that I was a selfish and individualistic person only concerned with matters of self. After such “encouragement” I was often left more broken and down-trodden than before I shared my feelings. I am thankful for the many individuals, both professional and personal, who talked and prayed me out some very dark hours. While some episodes of depression are unpredictable with no clear etiology, other periods of sadness are situational. Most recently, the situation involved several key projects in my research laboratory that I had hoped would be finished by this point in the year. I began to look back at my previously penned plan of attack and immediately was reminded of how I had come miserably short. I had been so sure that all would be done by early December that I even planned an early vacation home to Arkansas. Last week was a dismal wake up call for me that nothing short of a miracle will enable me to complete all necessary experiments in order to publish a good manuscript by the spring. I was heartbroken. I felt inadequate. I began to question if I was even in God’s will for my life. While I prayed to God, I did so with feeble faith and certainty of my own personal failure. Though, I had warned others so passionately to be wary of the enemy who feeds us thoughts of hopeless despair, I began to feel myself sink into a deep, dark sadness. Not only was no work being applied to my projects, nothing else was being done effectively either. I even began to feel weak in my physical body with cold symptoms and exacerbation of preexisting back pain. But God! I am so grateful to God for His Word and His promises. I reached out to several strong believers to pray with me for strength. My mother reminded me of the God’s awesome promise as found in Phillipians 1:6 “And 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.” I was so encouraged to hear this from an old soldier of the Faith who has seen so many challenges in life. There remain many dreams and promises of God that she holds fast to in spite of harsh so-called realities. We hold fast to the true reality that faith truly is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen! Just because the lights are off in the room, it doesn’t mean that all the furniture disappears. As the furniture remains in a dark room, the perfect Will of God remains all the more. Proverbs 13:12 declares that “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. “ We must hold on to dreams inspired by God and rooted in faith. Today I encourage you to maintain a “Finishing Faith” that rests on the fact that it has been faith in God that has brought us this far and this same faith will lead us on!

The A-Team Finish!

In Exodus 36 we see the story of Moses and the people of Israel as they set about building sacred places to God. “1 ) So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded." 2 ) Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3) They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4) So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done." 6 )Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: "No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary." And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7) because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

In verses 1 and 2 we see that the Lord Himself had “given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary” to those that He feels are most capable to carry out the work. Look at yourself in the proverbial mirror today. Know that God has called you out for certain tasks according to the gifts and talents placed inside you from the start. You have the ability to do the work and as a possessor of finishing faith you also recognize your response-ability or responsibility to see your assignment through to the end. The part I like most about this passage is seen in verses 4-7 as we see that the people began to rally behind those who God had placed in leadership over the building of the Tabernacle and that they donated so much that Moses had to tell them to bring no more! When God places a job in front of you, He often positions people around to provide physical, emotional and spiritual support. The broader worldview is such that we begin to believe that we have to do things on our own in order to be respected and celebrated. How many believers take on a martyr’s mentality that compels them to carry entire loads alone when God ordained them to distribute the work evenly and march forward to lead the pack. Just as we see in verse 7, assess your project(s) fully to see if perhaps you already have “more than enough to do all the work.” Not only is the Source of your personal spiritual strength found in God, it is equally true that He uses earthen vessels; even mortal men to help you finish your Kingdom work. We are a part of a vast Family of God, each with unique gifts and talents that should be celebrated and maximized for the Kingdom. I am personally challenged to find ways in the coming week to utilize the people that God has placed around me to help me finish seemingly unconquerable tasks both at work and in ministry. Cliché or not, no man is an island. There really is no “I” in “team”. Finishing in faith often entails trusting the Godly purpose in someone other than yourself in order to finish; and finish well!

Been there! Done that!

My mother has an amazing memory. I have often heard from my married male friends that this is a gift claimed by most women. Somehow I think I missed the memory gene and am only now seeking to reclaim it. When pushing to finish, the believer must recall the past hurdles that have already been overcome and proclaim the power of God in days past. Psalm 46 summons us to stand firm in our faith in an all powerful and ever present God: 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.” That’s right think about it. Had it not been for the Lord who was on your side, where would you be? “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrew 13:8. As followers of Christ we take His awesome of example of submitting to the Will of the Father as a perfect example of how to finish. We look to Him when our memory of grace gone before fades against the backdrop or weary and worn faith. Be strengthened by the Word even now! When memory of past triumphs grow dim recall Hebrews 12: 2) "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” When we are faced with feelings of defeat and taunts from the enemy that we will die leaving our work undone, we must rebuke such thoughts fully aware of the knowledge of a Mighty God and His Son who have authored and will also bring to completion our faith centered dreams! Keep your eyes on Jesus. Recall miracle after miracle that He has performed in times past and rest on all that He is doing even now. He is Alpha and Omega. God goes ahead of you as you approach difficult tasks and He goes behind you to cover you and to help you wrap up otherwise unnoticed loose ends. It’s already done!

Stiff competition.

1 Corinthians 9: 24- 26 reads “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” This passage is quite interesting to me in that upon superficial perusal it suggests that we are contending with one another. Paul clarifies in verse 25 that unlike competing athletes, we Christians run for eternal glory in the Kingdom of God. We are not running against each other, but decidedly in the direction of God and His purpose for our lives. While everyone will have a different race to run and finish, we all have the same destination. While Paul reminded us in Hebrew 11 of the many “faith runners” gone before, he continues on in Hebrews 12: 1) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Know that a faith finisher refuses to carry around anything that will slow him or her in pursuit of the finish line. If you are being hindered from finishing your race secondary to greed, ingratitude, inappropriate relationships, selfishness, laziness, pride or any matter of sin, you must be willing to let it go immediately. The faith finisher recognizes the brevity of this race and desires to reach the finish line before life’s end or to at the very least to die trying. The stiffest competition lies within the recesses of our minds. In a world that suggest to us that we have to keep up with the Jones’ and the Kardashians, we know full well that we live our lives and run our race within the context of Romans 12: 2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Transform your thinking to that of Christ in order to understand that you aren’t racing against people. You run to reach your God ordained destiny according to His will!

Dr.’s Orders 

1)Identify at least one natural and spiritual task that remains undone in your life. Even if you presently feel inept to finish it, pray that the Holy Spirit will assist you in finishing the work that He has begun. Pray Philippians 1:6 over the situation. Know that if God brought you to a situation He is more than able to bring you through it!

2)Find trustworthy and prayerful cheerleaders to support your project. Let them know how you need help, either tangible or spiritual. Don’t be afraid to ask for God’s help through other people.

3)Dare to praise God for the victory of finishing! Speak in confidence and faith that the projects/tasks are moving forward to completion.