FINISH THE RACE

The whirlwind of these past few weeks has begun to calm and has revealed the scattered debris that we will need to start picking up to move forward. But by God’s grace we will. For those of you that haven’t heard, here is quick recap.

On July 4^th, we received a call from my mother-in-law that Steve (my father-in-law) was weak, feverish, and slightly confused. My wife and sister-in-law advised her to take him to the emergency room right away. That began an emotional roller coaster that no amusement park could match. Things looked bleak in the beginning, but then signs of improvement encouraged us later in the week. By Thursday evening he had improved enough that he was discharged. We received confirmation of a diagnosis on Friday, which we felt good about. We thought his body would deal with the infection he had and be back to normal soon. Monday and Tuesday, however, seemed to have a set-back, but then on Wednesday morning my wife and I visited with him on the phone and thought he sounded the strongest he had been since going to the hospital. That night he died and was ushered into God’s presence. Life on this earth was instantly different.

At the funeral home, we looked through readings for the program and came across a passage from Paul, 2 Timothy 4:6-8. That seemed so fitting for Steve. I’m going to cite a few more verses from that passage (3-10a):

        For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ⁵As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

          ⁶For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

          ⁹Do your best to come to me soon. ¹⁰For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 

Paul realized that his days on this earth were few and he took a moment to reflect on his life. As he reviewed how he lived his life he could say that he fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. He lived a life that honored the Lord. I believe my father-in-law could say that as well. He finished the race God assigned him. He honored the Lord.

How does one finish the race of this life well? What common traits might we glean from this passage and the lives of men like Steve Washechek that we can apply to our own lives? Consider first, the source of truth such individuals apply to their lives. Paul noted in verse 3 that there is a time coming (and I would argue is here now) where people won’t endure sound teaching. They will seek affirmation of their personal pleasures and whims rather than seek genuine truth that may point out their errors.

Someone who finishes the race of life well doesn’t simply seek affirmation for their lifestyle. They remain committed to the truth of God’s word even if it calls them out at times. Paul used this phrase “sober minded” to make his point. A sober-minded person is not intoxicated with their own passions and desires thus distorting their thinking. Whether that be fame, wealth, physical pleasure, or whatever, they don’t allow their selfish desires to muddle their thinking. A sober-minded person stands solid on the truth of God’s word and allows God’s word to guide and correct their behavior when needed.

Secondly, a person who finishes the race doesn’t fall in love with this present world. Paul, in verse 10, calls out a man named Demas, who fell “in love with this present world.” Falling in love with this present world and all its pseudo-joys and pleasures will throw you off course and you won’t finish the race well. This present world is tempting because it offers all kinds of temporary pleasures to sidetrack you. However, they are temporary. You’ll always be looking for more. And rather than pursuing people for Jesus, you’ll spend your time, money, and energy pursuing your next pleasure. People that finish the race of life strong aren’t in love with the temporary pleasures of this world. They have found the contentment of Christ and pursue people instead of pleasure. They would much rather impact a person than indulge in temporary earthly pleasures.

The paradox in this is that by prioritizing people you will experience the true pleasure of God, who loves people. My father-in-law experienced that joy. As we put together pictures for a video, I couldn’t help but notice his joyful smile in picture after picture. And nearly every picture had people with him. Steve did not fall in love with the temporary pleasure of this world. Instead he lived for eternity and invested in people. That’s how you finish the race well. And Steve finished well!

Many of you may be watching the competition of the Summer Olympics. You’ll witness races in all sorts of events from rowing to track and others in between. As you watch those races, consider the ultimate race of life and ask yourself, “How will I finish this race?” Will you finish well? Will you base your life and decisions on the Word of God or your own feelings? Will you find contentment in Christ and impact people or will you fall in love with the temporary pleasures of this world? Be a man or woman who finishes well!

If you think about it, please keep me and Steve’s family in your prayers as we grieve his departure from this earth but rejoice in his arrival in Heaven. 

Thank you, Steve, for your example of finishing the race well!