Finishing Strong

Sir David Frost and Sir Michael Parkinson have been in the business of interviewing people for a long time. Both were in Sydney recently to interview each other and fortunately for the rest of us who weren’t able to be there, the interviews were recorded and broadcast on national television.

The interview of Parky by Frost ended with a question of who Parky thought had been his best interviews. One of them was a lady by the name of Catherine Bramwell-Booth, who at the time of the interview was 96 years old and a General with the Salvation Army. In that interview, Catherine shared that she hoped to be in the same condition as Moses when she passed away. According to Deuteronomy 34:7, Moses was 120 years old when he died and, ‘… his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. (NIV)’. Parky also shared with Frost that most of his favourite interviews had been with the elderly.

It is inevitable that all of us will grow old and pass on some day. The bible reminds us that our days are like the flowers of the field who are here one day and gone the next (Psalm 103:15-16). At the end of his life, the apostle Paul realises in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 that his time is short. He will, in all likelihood be killed soon and he reminds his young friend that he is ready to go as he has given all he could have in the service of God and even in his last days, he is filled with confidence.

Paul shows us the example of someone who is finishing strong. Many of us may know some who may have started out well but got lost along the way and never got back onto the road. The Bible reminds us of the importance of finishing well and without regret. Even though he was locked up, cold and isolated, Paul keeps his eyes on the finish line and doesn’t give up the good fight. Some of us may have started out well, but some of us may not have. In either case, we can choose how we will finish. Let us finish well, and finish strong!