The term race can also refer to our Christian life and in that race, you and I are responsible for one thing: How we finish! We have a choice to finish strong or hold back.

OPENING SCRIPTURE: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.” (2 Timothy 4: 6-7)

1. I have offered my life as a sacrifice unto God. The Christian Life is a Sacrificial Offering
2. I have fought the good fight. The Christian Life is not a playground but a battlefield.
3. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. The Christian Life is a journey that requires faith and there is THE FINISH LINE.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO FINISH?
The answer is simple: Without the resolve to finish, it is impossible to give birth to the new. God cannot release you into a new season towards your calling and purpose until you cross the finish line of the current season.

HOW DO WE FINISH? GOD HAS GIVEN US A PATTERN IN HEBREWS 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since WE ARE SURROUNDED by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, ² LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)

WE ARE NOT ALONE – “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses!”

• God has surrounded with heroes of the faith. Those that have gone before us on this journey. Those that we can look up to, glean from.
• God has surrounded us with people on this journey. Those that are above us in authority (Paul), those who are your peers (Barnabas), those who under our protection (Timothy)
• Who has God surrounded you with? Who’s your Paul, your Barnabas, your Timothy
• IT IS A COMMUNITY RACE BUT THE REWARD AT THE FINISH LINE IS INDIVIDUAL!

TRAVEL LIGHT: “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us”

• Don’t carry any excess baggage into the next season- Weights can only slow you down!
• What are some of those weights: unforgiveness, gossips, offenses
• Why can they so easily ensnare or trap us? Because we can easily pick them up
• If allowed to flourish they will rob you of your calling and purpose

RUN WITH ENDURANCE: “let us RUN WITH ENDURANCE the race set before us”

• Endurance involves: Heart, Passion, Commitment
• The race is not given to the swift or the strong but to those who would endure to the end.
• In this race: bumps and bruises are guaranteed; falling is a guarantee.
• But if you run with endurance: YOU WILL GET BACK UP
• Don’t allow the fear of falling or failure stop you from engaging in your race. It is better to have tried and fallen than to have never tried at all
• When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. (Micah 7:8)

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE FINISH LINE: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”

• Do you know who the finish line is? JESUS
• Keeping your eyes on Jesus = Remaining in your lane as a runner, as a Christian
• Keeping your eyes on Jesus = Remaining planted and committed to your assignment
• “I have set My face like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7)
• The storms around you don’t bother you. Your eyes are fixed on Him!

FINAL THOUGHT:

• Jesus is not only your FINISH LINE but also your STARTING LINE- AUTHOR and FINISHER
• He who has begun a good work in you will complete it (Phil 1:6)
• Would you start 2020 with Jesus as your starting Line?