My Dear Friend, 

As the Psalmist ran the race of life, he was focused on the finish line and determined to finish well. In his mind, finishing well meant leaving this world in obedience to God's Word: "I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end" (Psalm 119:112, NKJV), or "I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end" (NLT).

Paraphrasing, he vowed, "I am determined to finish well. With all my powers I give myself to still be faithfully trusting God, faithfully obeying His Word, and faithfully and heartily serving Him to the 'very end' - of every day, every trial, every test of suffering, every challenge, every task, every mission, every message, every ministry, every season, and every trouble."

There is no joy like realizing that, by God's grace and our humble cooperation with Him, we have finished well. Others may dismiss us as fools or demonize us as heretics, but no critic or demon can steal that joy. We've finished well and we know it, and we know Jesus - our Savior, Lord, and Judge - knows it. Often joyful promotions to higher service await us on the other side of our finish lines.

After Paul and Barnabas completed "a whole year" of faithful teaching in the new and thriving Antioch church, and a short-but-vital relief mission to the Jerusalem church, Scripture records, "They … fulfilled their ministry" (Acts 12:25). Not long after this, the Holy Spirit called them to their first apostolic mission - with a new, dynamic power and greater fruitfulness (Acts 13:1-4). Why?

They were sworn to God's Word and faithful to the finish. Their faithfulness is an example for us.

We never know when our trials, sufferings, challenges, tasks, missions, messages, ministries, seasons, troubles, or life on earth will end. That's entirely in God's hand. But the decision to finish well is entirely in ours.

Will you continue seeking God's Word with the utmost seriousness - reading, studying, meditating, obeying - until the Lord takes you home? Will you obey the Scripture's instructions to the "very end" of every test of faith, patience, and loyalty?

Will you console and encourage your heart with the promises of God's Word throughout every season of suffering, until He releases you from your cross, thorn, or grief? Will you go about every task daily as God's Word directs, doing "whatever you do ... heartily, as to the Lord" (Colossians 3:23)?

Will you stay faithful to your mission until the work God sent you to do is completed? Will you persevere in proclaiming the message He has laid on your heart for His people - holiness, faith, the Second Coming, discipleship, true worship, unity - even when His people's resistance or apathy makes you want to quit?

Will you continue serving diligently and joyfully in the ministry He has called you to until He calls you to another? Will you remain faithful to Him in your unnoticed "Nazareth" season of hidden, humble, quiet preparation for ministry, as Jesus did, until He releases you into the ministry? When rank injustice or bitter persecution suddenly visit your home, ministry, church, or workplace, will you continue faithfully trusting and obeying God's Word until He calms the storm?

This piece may be just for you. This day. This very moment! You may be physically exhausted, emotionally drained, and spiritually spent, so worn down, so out of it, so disillusioned, that you're thinking the unthinkable - you're considering shutting down your divinely called labor or ministry, aborting your mission, and going back to doing what you want to do in life, as John Mark did to his dishonor (Acts 13:13; 15:37-38).

If so, heed this admonition. Reset your heart. And, like the Psalmist, and Paul, pledge to live the rest of your days sworn to God's Word "to the very end!" Finish your race well - in God's Word!

Pledging, living, finishing,

Obeying the dead,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries