FINISH WELL
–
By Pastor Lyle W. Pettit
It is
rather interesting -- & very revealing -- what people will say at the close
of their lives: --
Toward the close of George Washington's
presidency -- a battle for his successor
was bitterly fought between John Adams & Thomas Jefferson.
Adams defeated
That bitter campaign was renewed four years
later in
So intense was their rivalry that Adams
repeatedly proclaimed -- "I will out live
On John Adams' death bed -- on Independence
Day, 1826 (50 years to the day from the
signing of Declaration of Independence) --
Actually -- what Adams did not know was that
Beethoven was one of the world's greatest
musical geniuses.
Unfortunately -- the last 30 years of his
life were filled with a series of personal tragedies: -- he lost his hearing;
-- he became depressed after ending a relationship; -- he struggled through a
series of legal battles; -- he was plagued by financial problems & huge
debts -- & his health fail rapidly toward the end.
Beethoven's final words were: --
"Friends applaud, the comedy is
over."
British navel hero Lord Nelson's last words
were: -- "Thank God, I have done my
duty."
When John Wesley lay dying -- the words
that fell from his lips were these: -- "The best of all is -- God is with
us."
But among the greatest words of all are
those written by the Apostle Paul -- as found in
In these words Paul is giving his last
testimony!
And what a place to give his final
testimony.
He is behind prison doors in
Shortly before his execution -- Paul wrote a
final letter to Timothy.
In these words we hear Paul's valedictory!
-- His farewell!
But Paul writes with assurance -- not with
regret, nor with fear, nor apprehension!
Let's look & note the Apostle's praise
at the end of his Christian's life!
"For I am now ready to be offered, &
the time of my departure is at hand. -- I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith; -- henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me
at that day: -- & not to me only,
but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8
There is a quiet confidence in Paul's words!
He knows that he faces death -- but this
does not frighten him.
He knows that his work is almost over, but
this does not discourage him
His words come with courage & calmness
-- & in a real genuine statement of faith.
The greatest tragedy of our day is that so
few people feel any real purpose in life! -- Boredom is a devastating disease.
What is the answer? -- The answer is to have
a real goal in life!
And that goal must be found in the person of
Jesus Christ -- if life is to be lived at its fullest!
Paul -- had a life changing encounter with
Jesus Christ on the road to
I encourage you to read his conversion story
recorded in
Here he met the Master -- & that meeting
changed the rest of Paul's life.
It turned Paul's life around -- & he
became a new person all together!
Paul was never the same again!
He discovered a new purpose; -- & he set
his eyes upon an eternal goal.
Let me ask you this morning: -- Have you had
a personal life changing encounter with Jesus Christ? -- You can, you know!
You can experience & have the same
blessed assurance as Paul had.
You can have just as good a life changing
experience!
When the Ohio Sate Buckeyes played against
the Miami Hurricanes for the national championship of college football -- Jim
Tressel, head coach for the Buckeyes -- gathered his team for one final talk.
After going over the game plan, he asked his
team one simple question: "How do you want to be remembered?"
It must have worked because when the game
was over -- the Buckeyes had pulled off one of the great upsets in recent
memory -- defeating the Miami Hurricanes -- ending
The
question hangs in the air: How do you
want to be remembered?
Will you be remembered as a complainer -- a
gripper -- always looking on the dark, negative side of life?
Or will you be remembered as someone who was
positive -- upbeat -- happy -- always looking on the bright side of life?
What do you hope people will say about you
after you are gone?
How
will the people who knew you best summarize the years of your life?
It would be well for us to remember that --
we are not in the land of the living -- going to the land of the dying.
We're in the land of the dying -- trying to
get to the land of the living!
The real issue is when -- not if. --
Human mortality is 100%
Some people act like they are going to be
the exception.
Did you hear about the three guys who were
discussing what they would like people to say at their wake? -- Or their
funeral?
One gentleman said: -- "I'd like them to
say ‘He was a great humanitarian who cared about his community.'"
The next fellow responded: -- "I'd like
them to say ‘He was a great husband & father who was an example for many to
follow.'"
The two nodded in agreement -- & then
looked at their remaining friend.
Without hesitation he added: -- "I'd
like them to say ‘Look, he’s moving!'"
As Paul approached the end of his life -- he
was able to take a good close look at life & at death -- & feel
satisfied.
Based on Paul's words to Timothy -- I would
like to ask you three very significant questions: --
1. What Kind of Departure Will You Have?
At an earlier time in his life -- Paul wrote
to the Philippian church stating:
"For me to live is Christ -- & to die is gain” (1:21).
It was Paul's way of saying: -- "Don't
weep for me! -- Know this: -- when I die -- I will die smiling."
In this statement to Timothy -- Paul avoids
using the word death.
It is not that he is afraid of the word --
or even afraid of the experience.
It is simply that -- for the Christian --
there is no such thing as death.
The word Paul uses is "departure"
-- & what a beautiful word it is.
Several -- several beautiful word pictures
come to the mind in that word -- departure.
It means -- for one thing -- to take down
your tent & move on -- in the way a soldier would do when the army strikes
camp.
To "depart" means to break camp --
leave the battlefield -- & head for home.
Paul saw himself as one of God's soldiers --
living in a tent -- his mortal body. -- He knew that death was simply taking
down the tent & moving into glorious new quarters.
The word departure also means to lifting the
anchor of a boat -- raising the sails -- leaving the harbor -- & setting
sail for a distant port.
This is what happens when a Christian dies;
-- he lifts the anchors in this life & this world -- & sets sail toward
heaven & that eternal shore.
Paul knew his little ship would soon be
loosed -- & he would arrive at the heavenly shore.
There is still another colorful word picture
in that term "departure."
This was the word for unloading a heavy
burden.
It pictures a man who has been carrying a
staggering burden.
Now the call comes -- "My friend, lay
your burden down."
For Paul -- death was like breaking camp --
setting sail -- laying down his heavy burden -- & finally going home to be
with the Lord.
Paul would be promoted from a Roman prison
to a heavenly palace.
Was Paul afraid to die? -- Absolutely not at
all!
You could write over the whole of his life
these two words: No regrets!
Since he had no regrets -- he viewed his
death as simply going home to be with the Lord!
Heaven -- my friends -- is not so much about
gates of pearl -- & golden streets; -- it is about enjoying the presence of
Jesus for eternity!
What kind of departure will you have?
Do you have that same confidence about your
own death?
You can in fact face death with a buoyant
faith if you have faith in & trust upon the Lord Jesus Christ as your
personal Lord & Savior!
An old man & his grandson were sitting
on a dock one late afternoon.
The two chatted about everything, it seemed:
-- why is water wet; -- why do seasons change; -- why girls hate worms; -- what
life is like.
Finally the boy looked up & asked: --
"Grandpa, does anyone ever see God?"
As the old man looked across the still
waters of the lake -- he said: -- "Son, it’s getting so now I hardly see
anything else."
Oh, how comforting it is to realize that
when Christians die -- their departure from earth means their arrival in
heaven.
Departure time is also arrival time.
What kind of departure will you have?
2. The Second Question I'd like to ask you is --
What Kind of Legacy Will You Leave Behind?
Someone remarked that when we write people's
biographies -- we should start with their death -- not their birth.
After all, we have nothing to do with the
way our life began -- but we have a whole lot to do with the way it ends!
When the Apostle Paul approached the end of
his life -- he wrote in vs. 7 -- "I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith." -- What a legacy to leave
behind!
Because he trusted Jesus Christ -- Paul
could look back over his life with neither fear nor regrets!
Many people try to avoid looking back.
To be sure -- there is a wrong way to look
back; -- it is wrong to look back at past sins & failures & defeats.
That can only make you fail even more today.
But it is good to look back to see where we
have been -- & what the Lord has done in us -- & through us.
As Paul looked back -- he saw that life had
not always been easy.
There had been battles to fight -- races to
run -- a stewardship to fulfill.
He had fought the world, the flesh, &
the devil -- in city after city -- & now he was in his final battle at
There were times when he thought he was
going to fail -- but the Lord had always brought him through.
He could write: -- "I have fought a
good fight."
He could also write -- "I have finished
my course."
This had always been Paul's great desire!
To the elders in
Each one of us has a course to finish!
God has a place for each one of us to fill
-- & a work for each of us to do.
Our times are in His hands. -- Some are allotted a shorter span for their
work; -- others are given more time.
But it is not the length of life that counts
-- it is the depth & strength of life
Paul had finished his course!
He could face the Lord & know that his
work had been completed.
And Paul had kept the faith!
Even in Paul's day there were professed
Christians who had departed from the faith. -- And it is true in our day --
people forsaking the faith!
But as a good steward -- Paul had protected
the faith & kept the faith!
I read a humorous story the other day about
a bloodhound.
He started chasing a deer -- but a fox
crossed his path -- so he started chasing the fox instead.
After a while -- a rabbit crossed his path
-- so the hound chased the rabbit. -- Yet later -- a mouse crossed his path --
& the hound chased the mouse into a hole.
The hound -- which had begun his hunt on the
trail of a magnificent deer -- ended up watching a mouse hole.
Most of us will laugh at the bloodhound! --
But if we stop & think -- we will realize that often we too are easily
distracted.
At times we may even be side-tracked from
following Christ!
It is so easy to start well -- but then run
after things that cross our paths.
We need to heed the words of Paul -- &
keep the faith!
You know -- measured by the world's
yardstick of success -- Paul's life seems almost without significance.
But God's standards of success differ from
the world's.
Jesus said: -- "What this world honors
is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke 16:15
The Bible turns values topsy-turvy; -- puts
first what men put last -- & last what men put first.
Paul said: -- "I have kept the
faith!"
Did he keep his life? -- No, it was taken
from him.
Did he keep his wealth? -- No, the
Philippian church sent him offerings.
Did he keep his friends? -- No, even Demas
forsook him.
Did he keep his health? -- No, he had a
thorn in the flesh.
Did he keep his books? -- No, he instructed
Timothy to bring them.
Did he keep his clothes? -- No, even his
cloke was in
What did he keep? -- He kept the faith!
But the Christian must have a faith that is
worth keeping!
My friend -- do you have a faith worth
keeping?
I ask again: -- what kind of legacy will you
leave behind?
Take time to look back over your life. --
Have you fought a good fight?
Are you in the battle -- or are you a
casualty on the field?
Have you finished your course?
Did
you do the will of God from your heart?
And have you kept the faith?
Are you true to the teachings of the Word of
God?
Paul could look back without regret! -- I
trust you can do the same!
3. My
final question to you this morning is this -- What Kind of Reward Will You
Receive?
Paul says in vs. 8 -- "Henceforth there
is laid up for me a crown of right-eousness -- which
the Lord -- the righteous judge -- shall give me at that day: -- & not to
me only -- but unto all them also that love His appearing."
Some people -- when they approach the end of
life -- are afraid to look ahead. -- But Paul had no fears as he looked ahead!
There is no peace like the peace we have in
our hearts -- when we know the future is secure.
Paul's
faith was not in Roman justice or law -- as great as they might be.
His faith was not in his many friends -- or
even in himself.
His faith was in the Lord! -- Paul could
look ahead without doubt or apprehension -- because he trusted in Jesus Christ!
And Paul would hear from his Savior --
"Well done, thou good & faithful servant."
By faith Paul could see beyond his own
possible beheading.
By faith -- he sees a day -- "that
day" -- when he will receive his reward.
It will be a guaranteed reward; -- it is
"laid up" in heaven awaiting him.
It will be a glorious reward; -- it is the
crown of righteousness.
It will be a personal reward; -- he will
receive it from the Lord Himself!
What kind of reward will you receive?
Do you long for the Savior's return -- or do
you dread the day when He shall call you to "give an account of your
stewardship?"
Our present choices determine our future
rewards!
If -- if you serve the devil -- then you
will have to live with him forever!
You will hear the words of Jesus say: --
"Depart from me."
You will make your bed in hell for eternity!
All the favorable & joyous scenes in
this life will be removed forever.
All the hours of repose -- all hours of
gratification -- all pleasures of this life will be gone forever. -- No one will comfort & cheer your
broken heart!
There -- in eternal torment -- your misery
will remain unmixed -- remorse -- agony & despair forever.
But dear child of God -- be encouraged!
Remember -- that a special "crown of
righteousness" will be given by the Savior to "all them" -- who
conduct themselves in such a way that their lives clearly indicate that they
eagerly long for the Lord's return.
This is the reward of the faithful!
This is what is ahead for you & me if we
will faithfully serve Jesus Christ in this life!
Be encouraged -- child of God! -- He sees
all that you go through.
He knows all about your struggles.
He sees how hard the fight is -- how you are
sometimes tempted to quit -- & how you keep on going when others around you
throw in the towel.
He sees & He knows -- & in "that
day" -- the Lord Himself will reward us if we are faithful to Him to the
end!
The best is yet to come! -- It won't be long
now -- just a little while -- & the Lord Himself will return -- & all
our struggles will be over!
The hard battles won't last forever; -- this
long road will soon come to an end -- & this old world full of
"dangers, toils & snares" won't last much longer. -- So hold on
to your faith -- dear child of God!
Keep on believing! -- Stay strong! -- Put on
the whole armor of God!
There is a finish line out there somewhere
-- & it's closer than any of us realize.
Conclusion:
-- May the lessons we learn from this aging apostle enable us to run well today
-- while encouraging us to finish strong tomorrow!
One of these days -- life is going to end
for you & me.
None of us know the day or the hour -- &
for some it may be sooner than expected.
Our home-going may be sudden; -- or we may
have time to contemplate life as Paul did in that Roman prison.
There are some questions we need to consider
-- while we still can.
What kind of departure will you have?
What kind of legacy will you leave?
What kind of reward will you receive?
I trust that all of us here today will be
able to come to the same ringing testimony that Paul gives!
Yield your heart & life to the Lord
Jesus Christ!
In a brief letter written in 1955 to the
Nazarene Herald of Holiness -- H.C. Powell wrote: --
My angel mother passed to her eternal
home, September 24, 1875, when I was three years old. Her last word was, “Trust".
A godly stepmother came into our home
eighteen months later; she reared my brother & me as her own. She died on March 2, 1899, while I was a
freshman in college. Her last word, as a
smile came over her countenance, was "Jesus".
Since
that time I have made these two sacred words the motto of my life. Trust Jesus, & all will be well.
Powell goes on to write -- & I
whole-heartedly concur with him: --
"I humbly commend this enriching
motto to others. -- You, too, by a sound & staunch faith in Jesus, the
Christ, will be deeply enriched in your life & service in the
Pastor
Lyle W. Pettit
Wynne
Chapel,