50 Days: Day 22

This scripture is found in Hebrews 12:1-2, "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. 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." In 1 Corinthians 14: 33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." And in Moroni 6:4, "And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith." This scripture really became clear to me while we built a house. We were anxious to get in the house; it was so close to being done. In fact all that needed to get done was "the finish" work--things like the trim and touch up paint. The house was essentially complete but it wasn't finished. Those last touches were the difference between a house and a home. In our lives, we can be complete but not truly finished until we give ourselves over to the Savior who is the ultimate finisher. He makes us more than complete but finished and perfect. Another way to look at these scriptures is in the way of finishing a race. In this race of life we are in, we are not competing to win but just to finish. We need the Savior to help us finish our race. I like that image also. I watch the Ironman Triathlon on TV from Hawaii. It is a grueling race of a  three mile swim, 110 mile bike race, and then a 26 mile marathon run. The top athletes finish in a few hours, but the athletes I admire are the ones who finish hours and hours after the top athletes. They are the grandmothers or disabled who are just happy to finish. I imagine when I return to my Heavenly Father, it won't matter when I finish but just that I finish in the arms of my Father.