I can think of several personal “FINISH LINES” in my life . . . meeting Dan after a six thousand mile road trip on my own . . . walking across the George Fox stage to receive my Masters Degree . . . completing a fifty mile bike ride around Portland, Oregon with grandson Dakota, son Curtis, and husband Dan. As much as I enjoyed their company, the ride was strenuous enough that the end of the ride did indeed become my focus. Only one of us earned an Eagle Scout badge, but all four of us made it to the FINISH LINE!

Long life is a tremendous gift of God, yet aging can be challenging – physically, mentally, and socially. Uniquely, Hebrews 12:1-2  likens our mortal lives to a race with Jesus modeling the perfect runner.  How so? Jesus did not age! No, Jesus did not live long enough on this earth to experience aging, but he faced death and endured much suffering as do many elders.  His enduring focus was on the FINISH LINE where eternal joy awaited Him and now awaits us. I believe this is the secret to us aging well, to focus on Who awaits us. It takes some prayer and mental discipline to adopt this counter culture, biblical mindset . . . not seeing death as a disaster but “going to the Father” . . . not seeing death as defeat but the victorious completion of a long assignment . . . intentionally working to hear the “well done, my good and faithful servant.” Hope, our blessed assurance, is the gift offered to Jesus followers. Will we receive it, and run joyously to our FINISH LINE per Heb. 12:1-2?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . .

We cannot yet see them, but the forerunners of our Christian faith are cheering for us! Let’s receive their encouragement, witness, insight, and prayers. Thank God for their willing hearts and break-throughs in furthering the kingdom. We can benefit from studying the lives of these biblical characters (some listed in Hebrews 11) as well as recalling what God has done in our own lives.

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us . . .

To go the distance, our burdens of worry and anxiety must go and every other sin as well. Taking personal inventory for confession can be challenging, but the process of I John 1:9 will lighten our load. For inspiration, try reading or watching an animated version of Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Finally, Pilgrim let go of his backpack of sin – as we all need to do!

And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . .

I interpret “the race” to be one’s personal mission, calling or assignment (the good works for which we were made per Ephesians 2:10). Sometimes, these “races” are pretty slow processes like raising children! Whether our current run is a marathon or sprint, let’s fast and pray to be sure we are on His path, so we can run heartily as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). The secret to endurance is our focus on Jesus. 

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith . . .

According to Jesus’ example, our focus makes all the difference. Life has multiple distractions, but Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). Eventually, this meant that He set His eyes on Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). Might we go over Jesus’ story again . . . reading and rereading the gospels until his prayerful, obedient dependence on the Father as well as his approach to the people he served is very clear. Jesus is the model of all we seek to be, our mentor, coach, and redeemer as well as the One who will meet us at our FINISH LINE. If we’ve got it right with Jesus, we will finish this life well.

WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM

Jesus never lost sight of where he was headed – that exhilarating FINISH LINE  in and with God. Let’s reread Revelation 21-22 as many times as we need to. During my father’s last days, my son Curtis encouraged him by reading aloud In Light of Eternity by Randy Alcorn. This life is not all there is; how important for us to anticipate the joy set before us as did Jesus.

Endured the cross; despising the shame . . .

As much as we try to deny it and avoid it, suffering is a purposeful part of this life (James 1). Let’s not empower evil with our fear but disarm the opposition by expecting and preparing for challenges and hard times (Revelation 12:11). Let’s ask to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and employ all the weapons given to us (Ephesians 6) as we strive to be stewards of our time and gifts—whatever the obstacles may be.

And has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The end of our run to Jesus will be glorious and worth all the challenges and hardships. His promises are true. Let’s live as if we believe that – not like this is all there is, and death is a defeat. At the FINISH LINE, we must say good-bye to loved ones for a season, and that is very difficult. For those released, however, life will be full of God’s glory with Jesus visible, in the place of honor, right beside Father God. I pray we each run our race and finish this life in a manner that will enable us to hear, Well done, my good and faithful servant (Luke 19:17). Amen.