Pilgrimage

Why is it so hard to finish? As part of my assignments for Seminary, I have to read about 13 books and write an abstract on each. I had completed 12 of the 13 last week…and left the last one lingering until today. If I had taken the time to complete it, the entire project would have been finished and off of my mind. Yet for some reason the motivation was not there. I procrastinated. I could have enjoyed the victory of completion much sooner.

The Scriptures are clear that the journey to our ultimate goal is important. However, if we do not finish, what have we gained? Think about Jesus. Jesus could have taken the twelve and discipled them…he could have fed the 5000…he could have even raised the dead and still not finished the work He was sent to do. Everything leading up to the cross was important, but it was the cross that was most important. It was to this that everything else led.

Jesus had focus. He had a plan and He knew how to work it. Often in ministry organizations, we never plan to finish. We spend months and years strategizing to get to the “next level” and we only change plans and never reach our goal. Certainly there should always be evaluation and collaboration. There should always be an escape hatch to change plans in mid-course…but if we never reach a lofty goal, we are selling ourselves out. Congregations need to see and celebrate accomplished goals. This breeds desire for the next big triumph.

Finishing takes a strong determination, almost a compulsion to refuse to see anything else but the goal ahead. The plan is just that…a plan. Blueprints are useless unless you are going to build a house. War plans are ineffective without a war. It is my conviction that God has called His people to finish. There is a world that still does not know that a Savior died for their sins. For centuries the goal has been to reach into every sector of the earth carrying the gospel message. When Christ returns the goal will have been reached and the celebration will begin…

I am focusing my heart to finish what Christ has set before me.

I am also focusing my mind to finish what my professor has set before me…