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Faithfulness

The Apostle Paul, at life's end, said, "I have fought a good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith."¹

One of my favorite quotes, which I like to repeat from time to time, is from Theodore Roosevelt who said: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."²

My uncle passed away in early 2020. The cause of his death was related to the many poor health choices he had made, especially in his younger years. He had been an alcoholic and heavy smoker for many years and this had taken its toll. Because he and his wife had no children of their own, I was able to be his "adopted daughter" when he fell ill, and spent much time with him in the hospital during his last months on earth. One of his biggest regrets was that he had wasted so many years and taken his health for granted. Now, at the end of his life, he wished he could go back and change that. However, we also talked about the importance of ending life well and making the rest of his life count. He would listen to worship music, we would talk about God, and he was the most pleasant person he had been in all his life! Although his bad choices led him to a shorter life on earth than he had hoped, he left me with many good memories and words of wisdom.

The conversations I had with him were sobering and a reminder that, when I get to the end of my journey and stand before the Savior, I want to know that I have invested my life wisely for eternity and have earned the Savior's welcome words, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."

Whether we live for forty, eighty, or a hundred years, our time here on earth is but a drop in the ocean compared to eternity. And as Amy Carmichael said, "We have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few short hours to fight and win the battles." So, let's keep daring greatly for God!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, in glad surrender I yield my life totally to You. Help me to live always for You and invest my life wisely in eternity by being a part of what You are doing in the world today. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 2 Timothy 4:7.
2. Theodore Roosevelt.