Are you ready to finish your race?

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Lately it seems that a number of people I knew from my younger years have been finishing their earthly race.  While this is certainly sad for those of us that remain, I can’t help but continue to be reminded of the crown that they are receiving. 

When you really think about it, this is what our purpose in life is all about.  We are here to fight a good fight and keep the faith. 

This weekend, my family will surround my sister in law with our love as she says her final goodbye’s to her dad.  Her dad was a pastor, even until he was diagnosed with cancer just 2 short months ago.  He was a good and faithful servant of the Lord. 

As I spoke with her this morning, she had a peace about her and a joyfulness about her that you wouldn’t expect to hear or see coming from someone who just lost their dad.  Some of her family doesn’t understand it, doesn’t understand how she can be so happy through such a sad time.  She is sad, for her loss, yet so excited and happy for she knows without a shadow of a doubt that he is now pain free and about to be united with our Lord and Savior. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I said it just a couple of weeks ago but it continues to be on my heart so I will say it again today, this world is not our home, we are simply passing through.  I pray today that each of you are ready to finish your earthly race whenever it is that the Lord calls us home.