“What are we doing this for?”
The student’s question shocked me—but not completely.
I had heard it before, phrased in different ways. Expecting it would come, I
had an answer prepared.
“The instruction from the top is to teach
to the end.” I paused here and asked, “Does everyone know who the top is?”
Heads nodded up and down. No one said a word. They knew the top was the
headmaster.
I continued. “Now, if anyone has a problem
with the directive, you are free to make an appointment with the top and
express your views.” Silence. And, of course, no one made an appointment. They
never do—and never have.
Some students think the last week of
school should consist of nothing but parties, food, movies, recess, and other
forms of free time. This doesn’t happen at our school. Parents pay for their
students to get a good education, and we make sure they get it until the very
end.
Stopping before the end—as tempting as it
is because we teachers are just as tired as the students—puts us in the company
of a runner who is winning a race but who decides to stop a few feet short of
the finish line. He is not declared the winner until he crosses the finish
line.
Jesus issued a similar order—one that came
from His heavenly Father: persevere to the end. He has given us a monumental
task: take the message of His love, through actions and words, to the entire
world. While many more have heard the gospel now than in the past, due in part
to technological advances, some still have not heard and had the chance to
respond.
Living obediently to God’s commands and
serving in capacities He opens for us also comprise the going until the end.
Stopping short affects us and God’s work. We won’t lose our salvation—Jesus
said no one could snatch His people for His hand—but we might just lose the
rewards He desires to give us, both heavenly and earthly.
We owe God our best because He gave us His
best when He allowed His Son to pay our sin debt on Calvary’s cross. Our love
for Him and work for Him demonstrate our appreciation. They also remind us that
what we do in life should be about Him, not us.
Make up your mind to give God your absolute
best—until the end.
Prayer: Father, give us the courage to
keep going until the very end.
Tell us how you live with eternity in mind.
Tweetable: Are you living with the end in mind?
Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.
No comments:
Post a Comment