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Sunday Three of Capital Campaign Commitment Sunday Final Lap - Looking to the Finish Line! Pressing toward the Goal! II Timothy 4:7,8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all that have loved his appearing." Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal of the upward prize of God in Christ Jesus." Well my friends, we are in the final lap - looking to the finish line in our annual stewardship and capital campaign! We are still pressing toward the goal! The enthusiastic involvement in a number of great people throughout this campaign has been wonderful. Our Adel UMC race car is pressing toward the goal. Last week with the first hand account of a marathon runner we received a greater understanding of some of the details of running that may help us understand some Biblical images of foot racing. Today I want us to look at more scripture relating to a foot race, primarily, II Timothy 4 as Paul wrote about finishing the race. Now I want to admit that we might tend to think of this Scripture more in terms of a Christian coming to the end or his or her earthly life. While it is certainly appropriate in that context I think it is fine for us to also think of this aspect of finishing the race and fighting the good fight of faith as completing various tasks as we go through our lives. I. Looking Back Paul had time to evaluate his life and his ministry and he was able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith." Previously, in writing to Timothy, Paul had encouraged Timothy to fight the good fight of faith. And now he tells him he is coming to the end. The word used here speaks of a struggle or a contest. In these scripture verses Paul makes reference to athletic games. Paul continues with another picture from the athletic games. "I have finished the race." He did NOT say that he won, but that he finished, he stayed on course. That was what was important to him. How much we need this staying power, like Paul had, to live for Christ. Mindy did not report that she had won the race in Chicago, but she finished. She did what she set out to do and I think that makes her a winner. Still looking back he said, "I have kept the faith." If Paul is using the metaphor of the Olympic games he may be thinking of the oath all the competitors made together before the games began, the oath that they had not done less than ten months of training and that they would not resort to any trickery to win. They pledged themselves to keep the rules of honor in their contest. Then Paul is saying, "I have kept the rules; I played the game honestly." The Chicago marathon did not require an oath of ten months of training, but had rules to keep. Mindy had prepared and kept the rules. It is possible that Paul may have had another slightly different thought in mind. This may also be the image of the steward who kept his master's deposit. Then he is saying, "I have kept the terms of the contract. I did not let my master down." I do not think that any of us want to let our master down. How wonderful it is to be able to look back and to know with God's help and with the support of family and friends we have remained true to our Lord. Can you look back on this campaign and previous season of your life and say you remained true to your Lord? If so, it is be because we have lived II. Looking Beyond. I believe that Paul did so looking beyond. He knew that through faith in Jesus Christ a glorious future awaited him beyond this earthly life. This future is not our hope just because we are a fine person and active member of a church, but because we have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior. Have we affirmed our faith and hope in Christ for today and for eternal life beyond this life? In verse 6 Paul wrote, "the time of my departure is at hand. This word for departure has several beautiful meanings. One is the unyoking of an animal from a plow or a cart. Paul had been hard service. He was soon to be unyoked to be promoted to higher service. Another is the loosing of bonds or fetters, the loosing of a prisoner. Paul was facing release, not execution. He was exchanging the confinement of prison to liberty in the courts of heaven. There is also the idea of taking down a tent. As a missionary, Paul traveled much. He even had a tent-making ministry. Now it is time for him to make a new camp setting out on a journey to heaven. Paul also compared the death of believers to the taking down of a tent in order to receive a permanent glorified body. Departure also speaks of hoisting an anchor and setting sail. For Paul is launching out across the deep waters of death to arrive in the haven of eternity. Some of us may be embarking on many adventures of faith before we depart for our eternal home. Paul was looking beyond, to the future to the crown of righteousness. Athletes in the Olympic games were awarded crowns, wreathes for winning. Paul's crown would never fade and it would be awarded to him by Jesus Christ the righteous judge, because Paul trusted in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The crown of righteousness Paul wrote of was not his alone, but was for all believers, for all who love Christ's appearing, for all who faithfully await Christ's return. Conclusion What legacy of faith are you leaving to your family, friends and work associates? What legacy of faith are we leaving as a congregation of people seeking to live out our faith as the generation that went before us has already done? While we challenge each other in our giving to our church's annual financial needs and capital needs to keep our building in good repair let us realize that this is not just to keep programming alive and have a fine building. Our giving us so that we will continue to fulfill our mission "To help people find and develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Our giving is transforming and enhances lives through the power of our crucified and risen Christ. |
| 13 November 2007 cew |