Starting Well, Ending Well in the Christian Life

Last updated on: September 3, 2018 at 11:16 am by Paul Louis Metzger

Starting Well, Ending Well in the Christian Life 2018-09-03T11:16:29-07:00 Paul Louis Metzger

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Sack race!; Virginia State Parks staff; Wikimedia

Last Saturday, I attended the wedding of a young couple who are friends of mine. They were surrounded by family and friends, including their church family. The love and joy they expressed for God and one another were contagious. Yesterday at church, a young man shared a testimony about his summer overseas mission trip. His love and joy for God and those he saw come to Christ were also contagious. Thank God these young people are starting out well. I pray that they and the rest of us who are Christians will be ending well the race of the Christian life.

Prayers and best wishes were offered for the newly wedded couple and the young man, who returns to a regional state university for his sophomore year. All those gathered at the wedding and at church committed to being all in with them. They realized that part of ending well what one has begun well includes vital connection to community. This is certainly the case in marriage and in the Christian life. Such vital connection is critical for the young couple and the young man as they continue on their way. Trials will arise that will test their resolve and possibly rob them of their love and joy. The same is true for us who are married to Christ as his church.

Doubts and disappointments of various kinds appear on the path of the Christian life. In some cases, the doubts and disappointments are the result of unfulfilled expectations. At this juncture, I don’t think the newly married couple or college student have too many unfulfilled expectations. They are still just getting started. However, difficult surprises may loom large just around the bend.

That’s not to say they haven’t thought about what lies ahead. They certainly have. There was a lot of planning that went into marriage (and not simply the wedding) and the overseas mission trip, for example. A lot of planning, but not so much overthinking. Overthinking and over-analyzing can take away the joy in a marriage, and in the Christian life. Love and joy involve spontaneity, and there was spontaneity in abundance on display at the wedding and during the testimonial given yesterday at church.

For all of us who are disciples of Jesus, we should ask ourselves how closely connected we are to vital Christian community? Do we have loved ones who speak into our lives and keep us centered on Jesus? What kind of expectations do we have for Jesus? Are we counting the cost and planning for the future, as best as we can? We must give consideration to these matters without overthinking and losing the spontaneity of our faith.

Doubts and disappointments will certainly present themselves on the path of the Christian life. Is it fair to say that the Lord Jesus himself experienced doubts and disappointments along the way? I think so. Here I am reminded of Hebrews chapter 12. The Hebrew Christians were experiencing severe trials and persecution, hurdles and possible entanglements that could easily distract and and disrupt them in their efforts to run the marathon race of life. While their blood had not (yet) been shed, some of their property had been confiscated. Some were tempted to abandon the faith and the fellowship of believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). In the midst of their doubts and disappointments, the writer of Hebrews offered this word of hope and exhortation bound up with Jesus’ example:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:1-6; ESV)

Jesus did not allow the doubts and disappointments that he endured on the way to the cross to steal his joy and keep him from ending well his sojourn here below. In fact, the joy set before him made it possible for him to endure such trials and tribulations in the marathon race of the spiritual life. He did it for us, he did it for the great cloud of witnesses, so that we could enter into the joy of our salvation.

Jesus’ confidence in God’s love made it possible for him to endure the discipline, doubts and disappointments of the cross. His love for us also certainly factored in his resolve in ending well. The joy of communion in the Spirit with his Father and his people for all eternity also helped him discern between rightful expectations and harmful ones.

In what or in whom do we place our confidence in the Christian life? What kind of expectations do we have? Are we prepared to deal with the struggle with sin which easily trips us up like bags in a sack race. How vital is our connection to the local church and a community of believers who share in the joy of our salvation and who keep us focused on Jesus? Like this young couple and college student, are we planning well without overthinking our relationships? Their unbounded love and joy were certainly contagious and motivational. May their unbridled enthusiasm inspire us and free us from cynicism and quiet despair. Following their example, may we get up. May we continue running well so that we will all be ending well–that is, “until death do us part.”

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 30, 2018

Perfect Love Casts Out Evangelicals’ Fear

Next Post

September 7, 2018 Face to Face: An Interview with Dr. Marty Folsom on the Triune God

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz