I have a “bucket list” for life and ministry.  A bucket list is defined as “a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime.”  I am very careful who I share my bucket list with and some of those things I don’t share at all, regardless if shared or silent, they are personal and meaningful to me.  One that I have shared is my goal to run the Boston Marathon again in my 60”s (ran in 1988).  I signed up last year for this years  Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, November 5th, in hopes to run a qualifying race for my age group to enter Boston.  But instead of qualifying I will receive a DNS (did not start). Why? - I didn’t complete the training necessary to accomplish my goal.  Why did I not complete the training? - too many things got in the way, some within my control, some outside of my control.  But I’m not giving up, still on my list.  My life’s motto has been “it’s not how you start but how you finish.”  That being said, if you don’t start, you can’t finish!  You have to be in the race to finish well!  There is a spiritual application here that is much more important than any bucket list and it has eternal consequences.  In light of eternity whether I run Boston again or not really doesn’t matter, what really matters is my “race of faith” as the writer of Hebrews points to. The bible says “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb. 12)

The most important race of all to start and finish is the race of faith.  We all only have one life to live, yes set goals and have bucket lists but do not leave out the most important aspect of all - your faith.  Not any faith but faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ - the one and only Savior of humankind!  The bible says “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” (cf. Heb.12:2)  You and I was the “joy” set before Him!  Jesus started and finished well because He had YOU on His mind!  Jesus wants you to start this race of faith by trusting and receiving Him.  He wants you to finish well by “looking unto ‘Him’, the author and finisher of ‘your’ faith!”

Pastor Rodney