"Finish"

It’s the ending, not beginning,

That’s the thing that matters most,

Life’s depart and not its start,

And when the time draws close,

The horses rode and skills we showed,

Won’t be the mainest main,

Buckles bright, though they’re all right,

Won’t buy us heaven’s gain.

Thankful, see, a cowboy be,

Until the very end,

But only one, who knows the Son,

Through heaven’s gate, God sends.

It’s not how you, began it’s true,

Back at the starting line,

Nor the pace, in this old race,

But to finish it just fine.

It’s faith in grace, to see God’s face,

And not how we perform,

Jesus saves, because He gave,

His life, our hearts transform.

So starting out with challenge stout,

And trouble dogs your way,

It’s not the start but the last part,

That’s more important than today.

To finish well and ring the bell,

Is what this life is for,

And heaven’s joy for this cowboy,

Is what God has in store.

Paul wrote: “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful…” (2 Timothy 4:6-7, NLT)

Some years ago there was a popular country song entitled “Live Like You are Dying.” In it, the singer talks about the things he did when he learned his life might end. Life ends for all of us. Hank Williams’ old song is true: “I’ll never get out of this world alive.” No one does. But how wonderful when one sees that the end of this life is only a spiritual transition to the next. Because of Jesus we can be sure of it, and have no fear. It’s how we finish that matters most, and Paul was faithful. We can be, too.

Lord, guide us to the end and then take us home, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Teal Blake, tealblake.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Teal, and God bless you.