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Have you ever been watching a movie at home and you’re so tired you just can’t make it for the finale. You wake up just in time to see the words, “The End.” You have no idea how the hero got out of the crisis or what happened in that relationship or if someone won the war. You don’t know how it all ended.
John and I have a joke between us about sometimes if it’s at night and we are watching something, he will have a tendency to nap and snooze away. He doesn’t see the finale. Then the next day he’ll ask me, “Did we finish that movie?” I always say, “I did.” We have a good laugh about it.
To experience the final part, you can’t just watch halfway. You have to stay for the finale. That’s our life also. Not just movie time but “lifetime.” You don’t want to begin something and then start napping in your faith and actions. You won’t be able to complete what you want to see done. You have to stay with it. That’s how you get the ending you want.
I was so happy to hear from a friend of mine who at last saw the ending to the story. It was the one she had prayed for and believed for and desired. For years she had prayed for her niece to come to know Christ. Besides praying, she had explained salvation and also lived it before her, showing the Christian type of life so she would understand what it meant to have that relationship. It wasn’t mere words but it was your whole life. Your heart and soul, mind, and body.
When you enter into that kind of relationship with God you experience the plans He has for you and the beauty of serving Him and also the reward and promises that come.
So this aunt would send her niece cards over the years talking about the Lord. She didn’t go halfway; she went all the way in helping her niece know God. Then one day she received a card from her and it said, “I want to say thank you for all the Spirit-filled cards you have sent to me over the years. I have kept most of them.”
I’ll stop right there and say that we must never underestimate what may appear to be a small gesture or action. Some people would say, “Oh, sending a card. Big deal. That won’t do much good.” Let me tell you, I send cards often. As John says, “You don’t ever want to miss the opportunity to speak into the life of someone.” I know cards are considered passé because we can text and email and message others, and that’s great that we can communicate that way. But remember there isn’t anything that compares to seeing the person’s handwriting on a card. It’s very personal, and research has shown people feel emotions when they read that handwriting.
So the woman had taken the time to sit down and write cards and share about the Lord to her niece. Surprisingly, she had kept most of them. Then the note went on to say, “Earlier this year, I finally invited Christ into my life, and I am a much happier person today! Now I know what you have known for a long time—that the only way to live is with God’s love.”
How beautiful! How important! Her eternity has changed. That niece is now destined for heaven. And by her own admission, she is a happier person. She recognizes there is just one way to live. In the love of God.
Because that aunt stayed for the finale and didn’t walk away halfway, she saw happen the ending she desired. She refused to snooze and ignore her niece. She took the effort, time, and the love to communicate. If you want to see complete victory, you have to stay until you see it.
Remember how Joshua and the people of Israel did this to conquer their enemies? In Joshua chapter 10 it describes how he and his troops were right in the midst of a war and they were winning. But they had been fighting for so much time that the sun was going down. That meant they couldn’t finish and have their complete victory.
Joshua knew they had to finish the fight. Not halfway but all the way. So he spoke to the sun and commanded it to stop over them right where they were. Then he commanded the moon to halt. The Bible says the sun stopped. The moon stood still until he defeated his enemies. It was a strong victory.
How could Joshua be so bold to command the sun and moon? He wasn’t going to miss the finale of the show of power that God was putting on. God wants to put on a show of power for your life. Believe this even when it seems conditions are going against you. If you want a miracle, stay for the finale. God will help you keep going until you see the great victory.
Spiritual powerline to say out loud:
“I’M STAYING WITH IT UNTIL I GET VICTORY!”
Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:
God, I know You are ready to show forth Your power in my life. Something great is about to happen. So I refuse to walk away halfway through it. I’m here to the end. I’m standing in faith and believing I will see the victory. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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