Finishing 2012 Well

Introduction

To finish is to bring to completion. The finish line indicates there was a starting point and so a movement must have been happening. Anything that does not move is dead. We can only know there is life in you if there is movement. A movement has a beginning and the end point or a destination. A movement is important but it is only a means to an end. How one ends the journey or the movement is the most important thing. Think of this quote. 'If you cannot run, walk, if you cannot walk crawl but never stop moving' For one to finish a race, she or he must maintain a movement.

The end of a year is a mark of a finish line and a preparation to another race of a new year. It’s a race as Paul described in Acts 20:17-24:

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul indicated the need to finish the race with joy and finish the ministry of testifying to the gospel of the grace of God. In Christian faith, we have a race of faith which we must finish victoriously when all is said and done after life on earth is over. This is an important race which we need to always be ready for and run it well. That is why we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). The other race Paul mentioned is finishing the ministry or calling well. Note that in Genesis 2, God had 7 days' task and He finished and said it was good. Indeed it was good. In John 4:34 and in I John 3:8(b) Jesus also knew His task well and He finished well and declared in John 19:30 "It is finished." 

Brethren, we must finish the race well and at the end of the journey we shall be confident to declare like Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6-7:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

This message is more on finishing 2012 well. People of the world have many ways of determining how to finish the race but let’s consider a few key Godly ways of finishing 2012 well:

1. Reflection – This is a purposeful evaluation of a past event, journey or relationship. In refection one should sincerely look at the successes and failures with all honesty to self and to God and pick carefully the contributions she or he made in each instance. This is not for the purpose of blaming self, God or others but basically to identify the lessons learnt and best practices.

It would be strange for a marathoner to keep running without checking whether he or she is on track. A wise person will be careful to check whether they are still on track. For us Christians, we have to keep checking whether we are in line with the word of God, that is, being in His will. To help us reflect well on 2012, we need to check on the following:

a) How was my walk with God in 2012? How did I relate with my maker that year? Did I please Him in thoughts, in my heart and in actions? Was I disciplined in reading His word, in prayer and in His service? Was I faithful to observe the Biblical principles? Did I fast faithfully, did I tithe? Did I sin carelessly or knowingly? Did I repent? Which areas in my Christian faith do I need to work on or improve?

b) Self-reflection. Besides the spiritual walk, it is crucial to check the kind of plans and resolutions you had set in end of 2011. Was I committed to accomplish the 2012 plans? Did I realise successes? If yes, what led to the successes? Did I make mistakes and what were my contributions to the mistakes I made? Making mistakes may not be so bad but repeating mistakes is indeed wrong. As you reflect, pick the lessons learnt, rejoice over the successes, laugh at the mistakes and move on because you will not repeat it again. If the devil reminds you of past failure or a repented sin, remind him its forgiven, forgotten and under the blood of Jesus.

c) Reflect on how you related with other people. In John 13:25, God commands us to love one another. Who was my ally or companion in 2012? Was the relationship constructive or destructive? Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). Did I help those who were close to me to see Jesus through what I said or did? How did I serve my family and those God brought my way? Did I discourage anyone in 2012? Did I hurt or offend others?When offended by others, did I forgive? Are there people I need to avoid wisely in 2013? What fruits can others identify in me this year and how did I use the gift of God to minister to God and to His people?

2) Have an attitude of gratitude: Another important way of finishing 2012 well is having a heart full of thankfulness. Whether you noticed successes or failures as you reflected, the Bible commands us to give thanks at all times. 

Psalm 136

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever; 5 To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, For His mercy endures forever; 6 To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His mercy endures forever; 7 To Him who made great lights, For His mercy endures forever— 8 The sun to rule by day, For His mercy endures forever; 9 The moon and stars to rule by night, For His mercy endures forever. 10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever; 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever; 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever; 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever; 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever; 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever; 16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever; 17 To Him who struck down great kings, For His mercy endures forever; 18 And slew famous kings, For His mercy endures forever— 19 Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endures forever; 20 And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever— 21 And gave their land as a heritage, For His mercy endures forever; 22 A heritage to Israel His servant, For His mercy endures forever.

23 Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; 24 And rescued us from our enemies, For His mercy endures forever; 25 Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever. 26 Oh, give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever.

In Exodus 15:1-20, Moses and Miriam sang after crossing over the Red Sea. If the Lord had not removed the wheels of the chariots of Pharaoh, they would have caught up with the Israelites. Thank God He removed the wheels of the enemy’s chariots in year 2012 and allowed us to come this far, thus drowning all our enemies.

If the Lord had not been on our side in 2012, the enemy would have swallowed us alive. Whenever sicknesses came, the great physician Jehovah Rapha healed us; when needs appeared, Jehovah Jireh was present to supply to our needs according to His riches in glory; when sorrow, loneliness or discouragements came, the Comforter was right there; when people wrote us off, God started a new page for us .

Psalm 118:28 

You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.

Psalm 100:4 

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 95:2 

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Psalm 75:1 

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.
Psalm 35:18 

I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

Luke 17:12-19 reminds us to give thanks because the leper who returned to Jesus to give thanks was not only cleansed, but made well. Be thankful and you will be made well.

3) Finishing 2012 well requires us to be proactive by having a plan on how we shall start 2013. It is wise to think of how we desire to finish a race while we are still at the beginning; this gives us the momentum for kick off into the new year. It is possible to pick lessons from the reflection and use them to build on the plan of action for 2013. Write your vision prayerfully and indicate time frames. God works with plans. Think of Jeremiah 29:11. Even at creation, God’s plan is well articulated.

Habakkuk 2:2-4 requires us to make plain the vision. 

Psalm 37:5 

Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass

Proverbs 16:1

The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

If you have a plan, you can’t afford to waste even a minute because you have a task to accomplish. With a clear plan, you cannot lose track like the prodigal son. With a plan, we can press on to the mark (Philippians 3:4). 

4) Finally, to finish well demands that we lean on the good shepherd. Being the author and finisher of our faith, indeed the designer of our plans who has the original blueprint of our life, we cannot do this alone. He already has given us the word so that we understand His perfect will and His ways. Since He knows us by name and is keen on all our details, lets commit every plan to Him and purpose to walk with Him in 2013. 

John 10:1-5 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Finish well with Him who knows His own.

As we prepare to finish 2012 well, let’s remember to reflect, be thankful, set out a plan for 2013 and totally involve God in everything we do or plan to do. 

Blessed 2013 is my prayer to us all.

-- Pastor Mary Mugo.

(30/12/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor)

Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.