Watch How you Finish...

Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with someone very special for me and my wife. She was hurting because of the way she compares herself with other people that  visually have experienced a drastic change by opening their heart to God. To be honest, more than once I've hurt myself in the same way. Again and again God answered with phrases such as: "I'm not done with you"... "My time is not your time"... "Celebrate what has passed while you await for the future"... Sometimes He stays silent.

My thought for today is simple: "Do not look at how you Start... Watch How you Finish"... It is not how long it takes, it's how you finish. It's not how much you do or don't do, is how you finish. The Christian life is a race... and in racing,  preparation is important, running well is important, keeping the pace is important, but even if you've done all this well, you will only be declared the winner if you reach the goal... Watch How you Finish...

- Nicodemus, was a rich man, Pharisee and member of the Jewish Sanhedrin... He STARTS by hiding and approaching Jesus in the night... and not understanding the message: John 3:1-15 NASB... THEN he defends Jesus from an accusation: John 7:45-53 NASB... and he FINISHED identifying himself as a follower of Jesus, offering a mixture of myrrh and aloes for the body of Jesus: John 19:38-42 NASB.

- Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, member of the Jewish Sanhedrin and the Roman Decurion... STARTS as a secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews: John 19:38 NASB... THEN he "gathered courage" and went in before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus: Mark 15:42-43 NASB... and FINISHED identifying as a disciple of Jesus, buying a linen cloth, "became impure" by taking the body of Jesus down from the cross, wrapped Jesus and laid Him in a tomb of his property: Mark 15:42-46 NASB.

- Saul of Tarsus, a faithful Jew Pharisee, instructed by the famous rabbi Gamaliel... He STARTS as a fierce persecutor of Christians and approved himself the death of the first martyr Stephen, Acts 8:1-3 NASB... THEN he visited the High Priest asking permission letters to tie any Christian he might find to take them to Jerusalem. On the way to Damascus, is confronted by Jesus himself: "Saul, Saul. Why are you persecuting me?"... and changes its course to being blind and waiting for 3 days without food or drinks: Acts 9:1-9 NASB... and FINISHED spreading the gospel throughout Europe, suffering imprisonment, flogging and defending his faith in Jesus at all cost, until the day he was beheaded in Rome.

Today I assure you... It's not how you start... It's how you finish... Go on... Continue to open your heart to God... Keep exposing yourself to the Word of God... Continue to be guided guided by the Spirit of God... and forget about how you STARTED, because God has "seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus ..." (Ephesians 2:1-10 NASB)... Stay in Jesus... God will do the rest.

JUST SAYING!!!

God bless you,

Pastor D

David Pimentel

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