eFax of Life from CBMC Heartland

Few Finish Well

You and I are at a high school track meet. We’re in the starting blocks for the hurdles race. The starter’s pistol pops – and we’re off.

We both jump hurdle number one.
Then hurdle number two.
We’re side-by-side over number three.
But while you go over hurdle number four – I decided to go around it – rather than jump over.
And I cross the finish just ahead of you. Who wins?
I crossed the finish line first – but because I didn’t obey the rules – I’m disqualified – and you win.

As I watch the human race – my personal observation is that VERY FEW FINISH WELL.

(I’m not referring to people that have not yet come into a personal relationship with God through His son – Jesus Christ. No matter how ‘fast’ and ‘successful’ they have appeared – people who die without Christ – leave all their worldly pleasures and assets behind – and spend eternity in Hell.)

I’m referring to Christians. VERY FEW CHRISTIANS FINISH WELL.

Oh, they may start out fine. In fact, the life expectancy of fervency in a new Christian is about two years. They can look like a 4th of July pop-bottle rocket: lots of flash and sizzle and sparks and speed. For about two years.

They get involved in ‘church-work’ with its programs and projects. Good and noble things fill the agenda. Business ‘type A’s’ are often put in positions of leadership – because they bring their records of achievement and growth with them – which the church (or para-church organization like CBMC) hopes to exploit for its own advancement. Plus – they bring their check books – and the established leadership know they will be dutiful to help support what they vote for.

After a couple of years – their enthusiasm wears off as they begin to see organized religion can be as phony/hypocritical/controlling/back-stabbing as any other organization. And they burn-out/fall down/become cold – just like a spent pop-bottle rocket.

So – what’s the problem? Are the Biblical premises a joke? Is Jesus a liar? Is God the ultimate con – extracting much and delivering little?

Personally – I’ve been a pop-bottle rocket Christian – full of passion/drive – and then gone through discouragement, disillusionment, depression. And what I found was there’s a tremendous difference between ‘church-work’ and ‘the work of the church.’

‘Church work’ has its focus on service/programs/projects.

‘The work of the church’ is focused on developing relational intimacy/love. And to best understand this – let’s go back to that high school hurdles race.

I’ve found I need to set some very important priorities in my life. Like hurdles – they have to be done one at a time and in proper sequence.

  1. My first priority/hurdle has to be my personal growing intimacy with God. I do this through daily Bible reading (by reading a different Biblical translation each year) using devotional tools like ‘My Utmost For His Highest’, 2-way communication with God (by prayer, meditation, silent listening), obeying what I’m learning. I’m not perfect – but I’m growing, more and more becoming like Jesus. (Mark 12:28-30)
  2. My second priority/hurdle has to be loving myself. By faith I’m believing what God says about me – and I seek to live a Christ-honoring balance in each area of my life. (Mark 12:31)
  3. My third priority/hurdle is loving my wife. On the 10th of August we will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary – but, like fences on a ranch, a good marriage requires constant attention/maintenance. (Ephesians 5:25)
  4. My fourth priority/hurdle is our children. Even though our three kiddos have graduated from college – we are still investing lots of time/prayer/money/thought into their development. (Ephesians 6:4)

I have no business working on priorities 5 – 50 unless my preceding priorities are being dealt with. And EVERYTHING I DO OF LASTING VALUE – FLOWS FROM MY DEVELOPING INTIMACY WITH GOD.

The ‘work of the church’ – the Biblical mandate for us as individuals – is centered on Christ-like love. As we seek to know and obey the heart of the Father – His love will fill us and overflow – possibly even into ‘church work’ and service – but now – these will have the touch of the Holy Spirit – rather than the contamination of my flesh.

CBMC Heartland, 07/04/03

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