IT'S NOT HOW WELL YOU START THAT'S IMPORTANT BUT HOW WELL YOU FINISH!

1. It's not how well you start that's important but how well you finish!

a) You can finish well. You may have had a bad start in life. You may have messed up along the way. You may have made mistakes. You may have regrets. But you can finish well and that is what matters most.

b) In the New Testament, Saul (of Tarsus) started off very badly (he was a persecutor of Jesus and was complicit in murder), but he finished well (as the great apostle, Paul).

c) On the other hand, the Scriptures record for us many examples of folks who did not finish well.  The Scriptures tell us of King Saul who was a “short-spurter.” He began well but he didn’t finish well. 

d) In the New Testament we find the example of people like Ananias and Sapphira.  Paul wrote of a man named Demas, saying that He had forsaken him because he loved this present world.

e) It is important that you finish well in whatever you have started and you finish it strong. Finishing strong is the attitude of believing you can do something and having the courage and determination to see it through to the end. 

f) We know that the winner of any competition always comes from among those who finish well.

g) Towards the end of Paul's life journey (2 Timothy 4:6), he commented:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

h) Jesus commented the good and faithful servants. Those who are consistent in being faithful and doing good.

Matthew 25:21-23 ESV
[21] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' [22] And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.' [23] His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.

i) Likewise, Jesus commented those just the opposite of doing good - the workers of lawlessness.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV
[21] Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' [23] And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

j) So remember, it’s not how you well start that’s important, but how well you finish!