Notes
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4:16
As believers in Jesus, we need to learn to believe by faith what God has said about the future. He wants to do a work in our lives just as He did a work in the lives of those we see in Scripture. Here are three ways to finish well and not give up on life’s journey:
1) Be like a builder and lay a solid foundation
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
Ephesians 2:20
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus is the cornerstone, the stabilizer of it all. Everything we think, say, and do should be aligned with Him. It is not by our might but His that we can do what we do for the Kingdom of God.
2) Be like a farmer and plant faith
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
Hebrews 11:1-2
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.
Hebrews 11:8-10
Faith is active; it can be observed. It means taking steps toward what God is saying to you. Like a seed, faith grows when planted in the right soil.
3) Be like an artist and paint the future
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Revelation 21:1-7
Here in Revelation, John paints a picture with his words of what we have to look forward to in eternity with God. Jesus is the beginning, the end, and everything in between. In your challenging moments, reflect on John’s words. Don’t give up; God will do what He has promised. The future is bright for God and His children!
Group Questions
- How do we make Jesus the foundation of everything we do?
- In what ways is faith like a seed?
- When have you been able to observe someone’s faith?
- How can we paint pictures of Jesus for those who don’t yet know Him?
Prayer
Thank you for being a promise keeper. We trust you and what you have said. Grow our faith and help us to paint pictures of you for those around us.