Acts 20:24

I think the older I get, the more I think about my mortality and what the end shall be like for me. We often don’t like to think about it, but one day, if the Lord tarries, we must all close our eyes in death and transition. Of course, we have different terms for it like “changing address or taking down tent or moving on higher or going on to our eternal reward,” but however we refer to it, the time comes when we shall come to the last moments of this precious life which our Infinite Creator God gave to all of us. I pray God that when that time finally comes that we can all look back with a sense of joy, a feeling of satisfaction, and with a deep sense of peace and contentment. I want to hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” I want to finish well. No regrets!

I find it very enlightening what Jesus said concerning his time here on earth and his ministry “. . . for the things concerning me have an end” (Luke 22:37). May the Almighty always help each of us, His redeemed sons and daughters, always to keep this salient and sober thought in mind – the things concerning us have an end. What shall the end be? I pray it will be God-glorifying and therefore spectacular. May we do all that we were sent here to do. I desire that when my end comes, I shall have been fully poured out, having done all that I could have possibly done to glorify the One who called me and to have truly represented Him to others. I want to be able to genuinely testify “that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

It seems to me like the apostle Paul was always keenly conscious of the end of his life, among other things. I too, want to be very conscious of and conversant with last-days doctrinal events and prophecies concerning the end-times, but I also want to be keenly aware of my own life-happenings and how my life and testimony measured up to His word. I really pray that those who are around me and those who come behind me find me faithful and a true man of God. Most of all, I want to have the affirmation and approval of my loving Savior daily.

As the apostle recounted his life before the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, I remain so impressed with his testimony and his account of his own life story. He said “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel” (Acts 20:33). He said “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Brethren, it’s so good when we can look back and joyfully retrace how we have lived and shown up – when our works can speak for us. When told of some of the disheartening things that would soon transpire in his life, Paul fearlessly responds, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). He earnestly desired to finish well and by all accounts he did.

As we purposefully consider the end, it is my earnest prayer that, like the great apostle, we too shall finish well. May we joyfully run on! Brethren, let us finish well!