Finished!

Alex Waters was running the Great Birmingham Run yesterday, all 13 miles! I hope he finished well! After all the training and time spent preparing, getting to the finish line would be a great achievement.
But 'finished!' can mean different things. For the French rugby players, yesterday's very close World Cup Final probably meant they were 'finished!' (and desolated) at the end. For the New Zealand players, their 'finished!' was triumphant.
The death of two members of St. Andrew's Church in recent days has reminded me of the race of faith in which we are involved.
Jean Harrison died peacefully in Woodbank Nursing home a week ago. The Thanksgiving Service for her life and faith is on Wednesday this week at 3pm. All are welcome.
Yesterday, we were told of the peaceful death of Eddie Bradley Feary, who has been declining slowly over the last months. We don't yet know when his Funeral will be.
In their different ways, both lived out their faith in Jesus, right to the end of their lives. They finished well.
St. Paul describes his own determination to finish in his life, in a Jesus glorifying way. '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. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.' (2 Timothy 4.6-8)
What strikes me from Paul, Jean & Eddie, is that how we live now determines whether we will be able to say, 'I have finished the race'. Today we must choose to live a life poured out as an offering to God. Unless today is a day of self-offering to Jesus, we may not finish well. That would be a terrible waste, and an eternal shame.
Which way are you living?
Best wishes,
Richard