Over the last few years, I've been trying to complete several projects that I have on both a personal and work level. Both have been equally challenging. As I have begun working through all the distractions that have been standing in my way to get these projects done I've been hearing What does a "Finished" look like?
In Acts 20:24 The Apostle Paul is quoted as saying,"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task (diakonia, "ministry, service") the Lord Jesus has given me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
Then in II Timothy 4:6 he writes, "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith."
I have often thought that Paul's words, along with the words of Jesus, would make a good epitaph for a Christian man or woman at the end of a life well lived. However, who gets to define what "Finished" looks like. We are not in a class to get a grade, get a diploma, or on a stage waiting for the approval of some audience. "Finished" is what you or I think is "Finished" look like. The Apostle Paul was no different than us. He knew when he completed the tasks that gave him that sense of fulfilling his life... and he knew when to move on. He goes onto write in II Tim. 4:13, "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments." Paul was preparing to move onto another phase of his life. Think about it!
When I was 18 years old, I completed my High School program and graduated with a High School diploma. What did that "finished" product give me? The ability to read, write, analyze, evaluate, develop critical thinking, math skills, understanding geography, history, literature, music, art, and so on. I am very appreciative of those who taught me all those life skills. But, that diploma and my High School transcripts also gave me the opportunity to get into college. Likewise, my college work led to Grad school then into my doctoral program. At each stage of my educational levels I finished the requirements, graduated, and then moved on to the next phase of what I felt I needed to do educationally. I didn't do this to prove anything to anyone else or to gain approvals of my colleagues, peers, family members, or the general public to become famous. I did it to give myself the necessary skills for what I felt I needed to do with my life. God gave us one "human" life experience to spend. What we do with our time, resources, and energies to need to be important to two people... You and God. At the end of your life you have a right to look back and say "I lived a life well lived." You can't expend all your energy worrying about pleasing the "others" whoever they are.
How I finish my life, my career, my job is no one else's business. Throughout my life, I have worked in sales, marketing, estate management, care giving, and pastoral work. In each of these jobs there came a time for me to quit. I had done my best. I had finished my time and moved on. The very first church I served as a youth pastor was "Christ United Methodist Church." I served that church the first two years of my college years. I had a very successful outreach and lead 150 kids to Christ during those two years. When I went to the church there were only 3 kids in the youth program. When I resigned I raised up a young guy to take my place who was born ad raised in the Methodist church. I left because I was overloaded with college work, I had no taste for boards and committee processes at the time and I knew that the church deserved a youth pastor who understood and could participate in those practices. So, I finished what I came to do, did my best to transition, and moved on. I was finished.
In my second church experience, as a young adult, I faithfully worked as a children's pastor, youth pastor, learned to lead worship, and served wherever the pastor needed me... including cleaning up the restrooms weekly. I was never afraid to get my hands dirty. I also worked at a Christian Radio station. When the pastor resigned his position and retired. I choose to move on and begin a new venture... pastoring a new church plant in Wilmington, Delaware. I had finished my work in New Jersey. I guess the most important thing to say in both church experiences before moving on to be responsible for leading a church on my own was that no one seemed to care that I moved on. I didn't need approval and everyone wished me well in my future endeavors. So who do we have to prove "what finished looks like to?" When you've done all you can, you've done your best, you have the right to call something finished!
Think about art work. When an artist says he or she is going to paint a painting they have a goal to paint what they want, choose the colors they want, finish the painting the way they like it and move on. They don't have anyone to please but themselves. It's their artistic expression and they don't care if you like it or not. Not everyone will like it but many may. But I know that that artist is not painting their work for everyone to admire... they may be painting for their own walls, a museum wall, or to sell or hang in a coffee shop. Do you really care what "finished" means to the artist. No, when the artist says it's finished it's finished. Each stage of life has a "finishing" touch.
When my mother died a few years ago... she said to me a few days before she died that she didn't want to die. However, because of her cancer she had no more time left to spend. She had "finished" her course. Time to graduate to Heaven! I wanted to give my mother a lasting tribute so I planned a beautiful funeral to express my feelings for her. I didn't do it for her large family. I didn't do it for her friends. I was very selfish... I wanted to speak something directly from the bottom of my heart to her and about her. So I planned a very beautiful funeral. I chose a wooden casket because she came from a family of carpenters. It was beautiful. I hired strings, brought together the best worship leaders and singers I had available to me. I choose her Methodist Church to be the setting. I asked particular family members to speak and I had chosen a very special site for her grave. When I completed the arrangements, went through the funeral process, I finished my expression of love and didn't care what anyone else thought because it was an expression of my own life. I got to finish her story with a wonderful tribute to her life.
What does finished look like to you? In this age of American Idol, X-factor, Hillsong and or The Voice living a life that matters to you is what's important. Not fame. I know several former famous people... they lived in a moment in history where they were the popular one. Now that they are older most of them are trying to recapture their fame by developing "Born-Again" careers. Think about all those who audition for the X-factor and tell the judges that their stupid, don't know what their talking about, and get furious when they are rejected for how bad their act was. Who are they seeking the approval of? Likewise, in the modern contemporary church movement... too many are looking to become the "NEXT" big thing in church. How about just living life and letting God promote you? Did you know that many of those who have worked behind the scenes are just as important as those in front of the audience? I love video projects. I love filming, editing, and choosing the scenes and music to make my projects a thing of beauty. It's an artistic expression. It maybe for television, church life, or my own personal enjoyment. But when I finish the project I put it away and work on another.
What am I saying? Next time you hear that "preacher," "television or radio show personality," challenge you to "finish" well... don't be intimated. It doesn't matter what they think "finished" should look like to you. You know when you finished a project well. You know when it's time to move on. You know how to do well and when you're not doing so well. Do your best. Finish your job, your degree, your projects and don't worry how pleasing it is to everyone else. Just do you best... and be happy with yourself. Even Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED!" That wasn't the end of his existence or work. Jesus moved on to the next level and has been working on projects like you and me ever since. It's time to move on to the next important aspect of your life that you want and feel you need to accomplished. Just make sure you finish what you started before you start the next task. Don't let things be undone. Finish those projects, tasks, and aspects of life that need to be finished up before taking on any more projects. Define what finished looks like to you. Give it your best so that you can feel proud of the work you've done. Let Jesus be the determining factor... let him one day say, "Well done! good and faithful SERVANT! That's the only approval you need for a life well done.
