Finishing the Race

Acts 20

​One day, life will end, or we will have to give our farewell speech in those waining days. Can we look back without regret and look ahead without fear? Will we finish our race with joy even while others are weeping?

Immediately following the uproar over Diana in Acts 20, Paul sailed to Greece, where he spent three months strengthening the believers and collecting an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. When he was ready to return home to Syria, a plot by the Jews caused him to change his plans and go through Macedonia. Several men joined Paul, including Luke who with Paul soon joined the others at Troas—back on the Asian side of the Aegean.

“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered. 9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.” Acts 20:7–12

I always find this somewhat humorous, as I too have probably bored someone to death with a message I have preached. While Paul was preaching in Troas, a young man named Eutychus fell asleep on a windowsill and fell to his death. To everyone’s amazement and joy, Paul raised him from the dead. Besides the resurrection of Christ and of those raised following his crucifixion, the raising of Eutychus is the last of eight resurrections in the Bible.

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Despite his trials and uncertainties, Paul had an eternal perspective: I consider my life of no value to myself. Instead, what he valued above all things was the opportunity to testify to the gospel of God’s grace. Therefore, Paul wanted to faithfully finish his course, to reach the finish line.
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Are you prepared to live the rest of your life the same way? Don’t let your days pass you by. Pursue God and His plans for you. Whatever the future held, Paul wanted to complete His life, saying in essence, “I have done what God put me on earth to do.” What will you say at the end of your journey?

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