MISSION FOR A LIFETIME

Acts 20:20-24

This afternoon we as a church will have the privilege to attend the Billy Graham crusade. Once again, we will have the opportunity to listen to a man who has dedicated his entire life to our Savior Jesus Christ. He is such a remarkable servant of God. At the age of 86, with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, fluid on the brain and prostate cancer, and a recent fractured hip and pelvis, couple with trouble seeing, hearing and speaking, he continues to do what God has called him to do – preach the Gospel of Jesus. It has been said that as of today God has given him the honor to bring the Gospel to 185 countries and about 210 million people.

His life should inspire us as we think of our participation in God’s mission. Come this Friday, about sixty of us will be going to the Philippines to do medical missions. If God would allow us, we will go to eight different areas, provide free medical help to about 2,500 people, and most importantly share the message of hope through Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that out of our constant exposure to the mission field, we will develop a heart for mission. So that our mission endeavor is treated not just an event, but as a lifestyle that will last for a lifetime.

This is the testimony of the apostle Paul that we will find in our text. Despite the imminent dangers, hardships, and afflictions, he is willing to follow the compulsion of the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem. He is committed to fulfill his life’s mission till the end of his life.

When you examine our passage, we will find in Paul’s mind, the picture of his life and mission compared to an Olympic image – running a race. He understands that he is running the race that God has set out for him. And as he runs the race, he is determined to be a finisher. Let’s examine the text together and learn how we can have the same commitment to run the race faithfully until the end of our earthly lives.

I     ABANDON DISTRACTIONS:

In my opinion one of the biggest problems with too many of us is we have failed to fix our lives in our primary mission. For Paul, the purpose of life is quite simple – TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.

If we really want to make a difference, we need to keep the main thing the main thing in our lives. Satan will do his best to keep us out of our calling. There will always be many distractions. However, a runner should be willing to lay all of them aside.

The writer of Hebrews using the same metaphor exhorts Christians to decisively cast off every possible hindrance including sins that would hinder us to run efficiently the race before us.

Almost with the same emphasis, Andy Stanley wrote in his book, 7 Practices of Effective Ministry.

“Devoting a little of yourself to everything means committing a great deal of yourself to nothing.”

Are you still running the race? Is it possible that you are no longer making an impact in the lives of others because of so many distractions in your lives?

II    ATTACH DETERMINATION:

In verse 23, the apostle Paul provides another truth about the race that each one of us must bear in mind - I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

If you notice, he was very much aware of the dangers and hardships ahead of him, and yet he was not quitting, he was going forward anyway. In fact the New Testament gives a better picture of what those dangers and hardships look like:

Despite all of these difficulties, Paul kept running the race.

This is the kind of determination we all need to apply in our Christian lives.

Today, a lot of Christians are quitting before the end of the race. I believe this lack of determination betrays our lack of devotion to God. Many of us have never understood Paul’s statement in verse 24, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race”

Do you consider your life so precious that you will avoid sacrifices for Christ? Or is it possible that the difficulties of the ministry have caused you to stop running the race? Jesus Christ never hid the fact that following him will involve sufferings and shame.

It was the end of the day at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics – only a few thousand spectators were in the stadium as the last of the marathon runners were carried off in exhaustion to the first-aid stations. More than an hour earlier and Ethiopian runner had been the first to cross the finish line in this grueling 26-mile event. As the remaining spectators prepared to leave, they were stopped by the sound of sirens going off and policemen blowing whistles. There, entering the stadium came a lone figure wearing the colors of Tanzania – his name was John Akhwari. He was the last man to finish the marathon.

His leg was bloodied and bandaged, and he grimaced with each step. He had severely injured his knee in a fall, but painfully, he hobbled around the 400-meter track. The spectators who were still there just got to their feet and applauded as if the were the winner. After he crossed the finish line in excruciating pain, he was asked why he hadn’t quit when he had no chance of winning a medal. His answer: “My country did not send me 7,000 miles away to start the race. They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it.”

God expects us not just to be starters, but finishers despite all the difficulties, and problems in the race.

III   ANTICIPATE DIGNIFICATION:

The word dignification is use to mean exaltation. Every competitive runner runs to receive a prize. As we run the Christian race, we need to look forward to the future whereby we will be honored by our Master at the finish line and give us our appropriate crowns. If you consult the King James Version translation of verse 24, you will find an intimation of a delightful finish – “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.”

The apostle Paul has never lost sight of the fact that there are rewards for everyone who runs and finishes. It will surely be the most joyous time for the faithful runners. In another text, Paul referred to this as receiving the crown:

The word crown does not refer to the emblem of a king but rather to the emblem of the victor. It is the laurel wreath that was to be placed upon the head of those who won the race. It was the most prized possession in the ancient athletic world. As the runners ran the marathon, they would run through the streets and then enter the coliseum for the final laps. The crown was always placed in the prominent area so the runners could see it. This becomes an added motivation in finishing the race.

As good as the Christian life is, and as profitable as it is to serve God, the motivation that we have at the end of the race ultimately is the Lord Jesus Christ and the crown reserved for us. Are you anticipating to be given rich rewards? It’s not yet too late, let us do our best in serving the Lord and let’s be faithful until the end of the race.

Allow me to close with this quote:

“We have all eternity to enjoy our victories, but only one life to win them.” (Dr. Johnny Hunt)

If we continue to faithfully serve the Lord, despite all the challenges and difficulties, He guarantees that we will never be disappointed. He promises to give us a glorious eternity!