The Danger of Not Finishing Well

Adapted from the book Fourth Quarter: Enduring Leadership Lessons That Will Leave a Legacy by Dr. Dwight A. Perry

Several years ago, while I was the leader of a regional movement of over 100 plus congregations, I had the unfortunate responsibility of trying to engage a pastor, who in spite of having a long and fruitful ministry, had been unfaithful to his wife which resulted in a divorce. Not only did this devastate his wife, but also his family, the church he served, and his legacy was irreparably damaged. As I have pondered this situation, the reality became clear to me that what happened to my pastor friend could happen to any of us but by the grace of God. Why?  Because whether we realize it or not we are in a spiritual battle against an unseen enemy (Satan and his demons), who want to rob us of the abundance that comes when we live for Christ and hinder us from finishing well.

Ephesians 6:10-12 says Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

That word struggle can be translated to sway, or a better image is to wrestle, and I am not talking about the kind of wrestling some of us grew up with on TV but the type of wrestling with an enemy that literally is out to destroy you and me. 

Allow me to give you a few nuggets to chew on that as you surrender to God’s spirit by feeding and applying his Word, you can be one of those saints who finish well.

1. Continually come before God acknowledging how weak in and of yourself you and I are and how much we need Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 1:8,9 is a passage I continue to visit on a regular basis. It says,

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us.

2. Never take your eye off the reality that this Christian Walk is to be done within the context of an enemy who is out to destroy you, therefore always be on guard for those areas of weakness in your life, that the enemy of your soul can take advantage. 

Ephesians 6:11,12 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

3. Build walls of accountability around those weaknesses with other godly men and women who are not afraid to speak the truth in love to you even when you do not want to hear it. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 says  Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.