To answer the question why I chose “finishingwithlampsburning” as the title for my webpage: and why I always finish my blogs with Hebrews 12:1-2, I share with you the thoughts Jesus Christ has given to me through His written word.

Each of us is saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. But His purpose in saving us is much more than redeeming/saving/forgiving/creating/renewing/freeing/adopting/ translating us so we can enter Heaven. Jesus Christ has laid out a unique racecourse for each of us to run. The race is a marathon lasting our earthly lifetimes. The race is not a sprint. He has prepared specific tasks for each of us to perform while still here on earth.  I cannot perform the tasks He prepared for you to accomplish. You cannot perform the tasks He prepared for me to accomplish. The tasks are uniquely assigned and we are uniquely equipped with spiritual gifts, position in His church, personalities and meaningful experiences to accomplish those tasks as we live out our new life in the Lord Jesus over the course of our journey of life.

Look at Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus

Ephesians 2:¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

What do these words mean to you?

What specific tasks do you know Jesus wants to accomplish with you?

How willing are you to surrender to Jesus Chris in the details of life?

Jesus compares the wise and the foolish at the end of the race -Matthew 25:

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

 ⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

Revelation 19:⁸ And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Notice that:

• there is a Bridegroom according to Isaiah 62:^5b – and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over

John 14:³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 There will be a meeting with the Bridegroom, Revelation 22:³And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

⁴ And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

⁵ And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

⁶ And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

⁷ Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book

¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

¹³ I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

¹⁴ Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

¹⁶ I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely

²⁰ He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

• The wise were ready
• The foolish were not ready

The lamp gives light but needs oil,

Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

And also in John 15:⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

• The marriage will be evermore together, the Bridegroom & His Bride. 1 Thessalonians 4:

¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

• There is a prize according to 1 Corinthians 9:²⁴ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

• There is a recommended way to run: with purpose (to obtain)

Running with purpose requires focus on the goal, avoiding distractions, endurance

Your Bridegroom provides instructions for running your race in Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 Notice that:

• There are witnesses – Hebrews 11 “the faith chapter” provides historical recordings of those who successfully ran their races. Do you desire to run your race successfully? With God, nothing is impossible. Luke 1:³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

• Your race is set

Jesus has a specific end to your race already established according to Jeremiah 29:

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil,   to give you an expected end.

• There is weight – we live in a fallen creation with a fallen nature fighting against our new nature, with an  inability to see God face to face- we walk by faith not by sight

• Sin besets us – attacks and surrounds us with the intention to best us
• We are instructed to run (continual movement, effort, don’t stop),
• We are instructed how to run

• With patience – knowing our God reigns and enables and will bring justice, our strength comes from Him alone, we endure and await Him– Colossians 1:¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

• Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith

Jesus began and will continue His work in you, according to Philippians 1:⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Jesus endured our punishment because He focused on the joy to come. What an example for us!

Think of stepping across the finish line; leaving behind the fallen nature, fallen creation; coming into His presence; looking on His face; examining the nailprints; touching Him; feeling His touch on your face; thanking Him; loving Him; worshiping Him; never again to be physically separated from Him. …..and hearing His voice. What will His first words to you be?

 It Will Be Worth It All by Esther Kerr Rushthoi

1. Sometimes the day seems long, Our trials hard to bear.
   We´re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair.
   But Christ will soon appear to catch his bride away!
   All tears forever over in God’s eternal day!
2. At times the sky seems dark, with not a ray of light;
   We’re tossed and driven on, no human help in sight.
   But there is One in heaven, Who knows our deepest care;
   Let Jesus solve your problems, just go to him in prayer.

3. Life’s day will soon be o’re, all storms forever past;
   We’ll cross the great divide to Glory, safe at last!
   We’ll share the joys of heaven: a harp, a home, a crown;
   The tempter will be banished, We’ll lay our burdens down.

 CHORUS:
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase.So, bravely run the race till we see Christ.

May the Mind of Christ My Savior by Kate B. Wilkinson b4 1913

May the mind of Christ my Savior Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling   All I do and say.

May the Word of Christ dwell richly In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph   Only through His pow’r.

May the peace of Christ my Savior Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort Sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me, As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self-abasing, This is victory.

May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,   Seeing only Him.

When We all get To Heaven-Eliza Hewitt, 1898

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place.

Refrain:
When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway, Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over, Not a shadow, not a sigh.

Let us then be true and faithful,Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory Will the toils of life repay.

Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will        accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti