Keep Your Eyes on the Finish Line

In Thomas Brooks’ book, Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, he closes with this advice, “It is our duty and glory not to measure afflictions by the smart but by the end.” He gave several examples—Israel was in slavery to Egypt, but left having plundered them. Israel was in captivity in Babylon, but left with gifts, resources, and a decree of protection to rebuild their temple. Job endured much loss, but God multiplied everything at the end. The poor man at Lazarus’ gate suffered much, but ended in heaven. Joseph was stolen, sold, framed, and imprisoned and ended as number two in Egypt. We could go on and on, but remember to look toward the end when we will be made new and spend an eternity with Him. You will not regret one moment that you suffered to be holy, but you may regret the moments you refused and chose earthly comfort and worldly pleasure.

Look at our greatest example…Jesus suffered more than anyone has ever suffered. The writer of Hebrews said,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The writer describes the Christian life as a race—it is interesting to note that the Greek word for race is agona from which we get our English word agony.

The point of verses 1 and 2 isn’t that up in heaven we have this great cloud of witnesses watching us…the point is that if you look back at chapter 11 we have the lives of all the past saints serving as an example to press on and rather than allowing Satan to talk us out of the race because it is difficult we should look at those who have gone on before us and be encouraged to join them. They finished the race and so can you!

We should do all that we can to lay aside all that burdens us in the race, but regardless of what we remove it is still going to be a struggle and our greatest example is Jesus. How did Jesus endure the cross? How did Jesus despise the shame? How did He do it? He did it by setting His eyes on the joy that was set before Him. Rather than looking at the suffering—He looked at the One for whom He was suffering…He looked at God the Father and kept His eyes there.

That’s what Paul told us to do in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27,

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self- control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Think about Christian’s journey in Pilgrim’s Progress. There is a moment when he reached the place of deliverance. Bunyan said,

“So he ran until he came to a place somewhat elevated. Upon that place stood a Cross, and below at the bottom there was a Tomb. I saw in my dream that just as Christian came up to the Cross, his burden came loose from his shoulders and fell off his back. It began to tumble and continued to do so until it came to the mouth of the Tomb. It then fell into the Tomb , and I saw it no more.”

Bunyan had great insight into the Christian life because he followed up his chapter “The Pilgrim Reaches the Place of Deliverance,” with the chapter entitled, “The Pilgrim Climbs the Hill of Difficulty.”

At the end of the journey the Pilgrim enters the Celestial City…Bunyan said,

“Then I saw in my dream that the Shining Ones told them to call at the gate. And when they did, some from above looked over the gate. They were Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and others. It was said to them, ‘These Pilgrims have come from the City of Destruction because of the love they bring to the King of this place.’ And then, each of the Pilgrims gave to them the Certificate that he has received in the beginning. The Certificates then were carried to the King, who, when He had read them, said, ‘Where are the men?’

It was answered Him, ‘They are standing outside the gate.’ The King then commanded, ‘Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps the faith.’

So I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the gate, as they entered, they were transfigured and had clothing put on them that shined like gold. There were also those who met them and gave to them harps with which to praise, and crowns in token of honor. Then I heard in my dream all the bells of the City ringing again for joy, and it was said to them, ‘Come and share in your Master’s happiness.’

I also heard the men themselves as they sang with a loud voice, saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever.’

Just as the gates were opened to let the men in, I looked in after them; and the City shined like the sun. the streets were paved with gold, and in them walked many people with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps with which to sing praises. There we also those who had wings, and they answered one another without ceasing, saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.’”

Do you think that you’ll ever regret for a moment any struggle you might have endured to be holy at the moment? Keep your eyes on that and press on!