2 Timothy 4:7 Kjv I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

In the year 1973, a horse named Secretariat became a legend in his time. Not only did Secretariat win the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, but he did it with an unprecedented performance. At the Belmont Stakes, he did not only win the race by 31 lengths, but he set new records along the way as he went faster with each phase of the run.

For one-and-one-half miles, that famous thoroughbred ran faster every second. Secretariat was accelerating at such an incredible pace that his trainer noted if the race had been extended another lap, his heart would have literally exploded. It is always tempting to settle in to status quo performance, but the greatest joy is found in straining ahead to not just finish, but to finish well.

In our reading today, Apostle Paul confidently declared that he had fought a good fight, and had finished his course. It’s more important to finish well than to start well. And King Solomon agreed in Ecclesiastes 7:8 when he said, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.”

Most people out there usually would start out well and end on a very bad note. But, like Secretariat the horse, we need to finish well. Here are 3 essential elements for a good finish:

#1. Have a daily time focused on personal communion with God. Every great person would tell you that, spending time with God is an expedient ingredient for a successful finish. Even Jesus did not take that lightly. Communion with God is a good habit to cultivate.

#2. Take a daily dose of God’s word. The Bible is our source and guide in life. Without this a poor finish is inevitable. We are told in

2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.

Life is a course and to finish well you need to read the one true module, the Bible.

#3. Commit yourself daily to God as a living sacrifice. And for this I direct your attention to

Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship”.

As Christians, we are on a mission and we need to bear in mind that we have a long way to go. And until we have this in mind continually, a poor finish is inevitable,

Precious one, in the end, we need to sound like Apostle Paul who confidently said he had endured to the end and finished well.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to run my race and finish my course, in Jesus’ name, Amen.