The Finish Line

Training for Today: Rest

Devotion: The Finish Line

For today’s final devotion, we’ll be considering the words in Acts 20:24: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”


I’m sure as you’ve been training for race day you’ve had many daydreams about what it will be like to cross the finish line. Perhaps you imagine the crowds of people cheering for you as you take the final steps. Perhaps you imagine how your body will feel, used but accomplished. Perhaps you imagine that special someone reaching out to you to say, “Well done!” Or, perhaps your daydream is simply a collection of all the emotions you might feel upon finishing a race of this magnitude.

In our verse for today, the writer’s only reason for existence is to finish the race, meaning his God-given task of testifying to the Gospel. Could you imagine the race you’re about to run as your only reason for being alive? Thank goodness it’s not! There are many reasons why our sinful bodies might not finish the race. But Jesus’ words “It is finished!” remind us that He crossed the finish line that really matters in our place! And, because of Him, our little ones have crossed that same finish line into the peace and perfection of heaven!

We know that we’re here for more than this race. We know that God still has a calling on our lives. God gives us each the task of testifying to the Gospel and will use our lives – whatever it takes – to turn us into the instruments He needs to pass on the news of His grace. In that sense, consider God the best personal trainer you could ask for!

Whatever vision you have of what it will be like to cross the finish line on race day, nothing compares to what it will be like for us to cross the finish line into eternity. The crowd cheering for you – your child will be there. The body you’ve beaten and worn – pain-free and perfect. That special someone reaching out to you – our Heavenly Father with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for finishing the earthly race as my substitute! Guide me as I train for this race, but, more importantly, be with me as I finish the race and complete the task that you’ve given me of testifying to your grace! Amen.

Thank You
Since this was our final devotion together, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for joining me on this journey. It's been an awesome, humbling experience to write these devotions. While I've been processing my own grief, it has always been my prayer that God would use my pain for His purposes, and I feel like God has answered that prayer by giving me this outlet. I rejoice that you've all been a part of it!

I pray that God has worked something awesome in you during your time of grief as well! May the blood of His Son always remind you that you have the hope of heaven!

God's blessings,

Stacy