I
was recently talking with a friend. We were talking about crafting
and projects and how many we seem to accumulate. She was telling me
how she starts a project very excited. Then it takes a while.
Sometimes it's hard to see progress, and it's hard to remember why
she's excited about this project. Pretty soon, she's lost interest.
There are so many fun and exciting projects out there (especially
with Pinterest)! When she gets pulled in by the new allure, the old
project is put aside to finish later, and a new project takes the
spotlight.
I
got to thinking about what she said, and it really made me think
about the Christian life. We start out as new Christians, very
excited about everything. Then things come up that are harder or not
so much fun, maybe even annoying. Pretty soon, we're looking for a
different project, um, reason not to continue to do those mundane
Christian things. Something else catches our attention. We put those
Christian duties aside to be done later. Some new, shiny thing has
been moved to the spotlight.
We
have to keep in mind the end goal, the prize, the completed project,
the satisfaction of a job well-done. With a project, we don't get
that sense of accomplishment until the last bit is done. It is all
too easy to lose sight of our final goal. Life happens. Priorities
get moved around. We must keep the prize firmly in our sights (1
Corinthians 9:24-25 - Know ye not that they which run in a race run
all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And
every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible.). Paul kept his eye on the prize and refused to be
discouraged by his past life or his many trials. He encourages all
other Christians to do the same (Philippians 3:14 - I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in
Christ Jesus.).
If
we have unfinished projects lying around the house, we may or may not
ever get around to finishing them. But Christians can always come
back to their first love. We can return (1 John 1:9 - If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
asins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)! The prize is still
there waiting for us to keep at it till the end. If we do, the prize
is ours (2 Timothy 4:6-8 - For I am now ready to be offered, and the
time of my departure is at hand.
I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course,
I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing.). It will take a lifetime, but it's more worthwhile to
finish than anything else!
