Woods…. Nicklaus…. Palmer…. Hogan …. perhaps four of the greatest names in the history of Golf. While each had a very distinctive approach to the game, one common factor they shared that set them apart from the rest was their ability to finish the course strong!

To the believer, finishing the course strong is absolutely essential. The writer to the Hebrews emphasizes the necessity of ‘holding fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end’ (Hebrews 3:6) In other words, Christianity is much more comparable to a race of endurance, rather than a sprint ….. and to complete this race strong requires the removal of everything from our lives that would hinder us from doing so.

We read in 2 Samuel 11 that ‘at the time when kings go out to battle … David stayed in Jerusalem’, and as the story goes, consequently winds up getting entangled with Bathsheba. Why? Because he was not where he was supposed to be! The Lord graciously deals with David and brings correction that enables David to ultimately finish strong, but much like the golfer coming into the home stretch on the 18th hole, it would have been helpful for him to avoid the sandtrap!

Perhaps some of you are challenged today with a ‘Bathsheba’ in your lives …. a relationship, a life habit, some besetting weakness that hinders your ability to finish strong. We are admonished in Hebrews 12:1-3 that “since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every ‘encumbrance’ and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ‘fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith’!

Jesus, having completed in totality all His Father appointed Him to do breathed his last breath as He looked into the Heavens and uttered His final words, ‘It is Finished’ (John 19:30). As our perfect example, we take comfort in the promise that He who began a perfect work in us, will in fact, complete it (Phil 1:6).

Moses …. Joshua …. David …. and certainly our King, Jesus were among the many in the faith ‘hall of fame’ who ‘set their face resolutely’ toward Jerusalem and finished their course strong! At a time when the world continues to challenge the beliefs of the Christian faith, I encourage you today to draw upon ‘The Champion Within’ and finish yours strong as well!