Paul's race...and ours

        It's been a bittersweet week, as a wonderful, godly man from Raleigh, that many of us know and love, has gone home to be with the Lord after a tough battle with cancer.
       I say "bittersweet," for his home-going is so sad for all of us who knew, loved, and admired him...but so, incredibly joyous for him.  Free from the terrible pain and suffering of cancer.  Free from sorrow, disappointment, failure.  Free from all the awful effects of this sin-sick old planet.
       Instead, for the first time, he's fully, completely, totally alive!  Looking into the face of Jesus--what must that be like?!--as well as savoring the perfected, joyous company of all his loved ones who have gone on to heaven before him.
       I sit here and think, what on earth is Paul seeing, tasting, feeling, touching, saying, singing right now?  Can we even begin to imagine?  Such wonder.  Such beauty.  Such freedom.  Such peace.  Such love.  Such excitement.  Such joy. Such glory.  It's unfathomable, really, to consider what he's experiencing right now, right this very moment.
      Oh Father, thank You for the glorious promise and certain hope of heaven!  Help us to maintain a heavenly mindset rather than an earthbound one.  Help us, Abba.  Help us to "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Col.3:2-4)
       Paul has now made his faith into sight.  His life was "hidden with Christ" on this earth, but now his life is fully revealed in glory in heaven.  We live in the shadowlands...Paul lives in the glorious sunshine of real reality.  We see dimly...he sees clearly.  We experience tiny little foretastes of glory in God's created world...he bathes in an infinite ocean of glory and wonder.
       Our friend Paul has "fought the good fight...finished the race...kept the faith...Henceforth there is laid up for [him] the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to [him] on that Day, and not only to [Paul] but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2Tim.7-8)
       Paul's race is finished...but ours is not.
       Until Jesus ordains that the moment has come for our very last breath, our Savior is leaving us here to keep running our race all the way to the finish line...by His grace, for His glory.
      And so we run, in order that the world may know--even when it's hard, or discouraging, or frightening, or painful--that our God is great.  And He is good.  And He is worthy.  And He is more wonderful, beautiful, satisfying, and glorious than any sorrow we might endure, any deprivation we might suffer, any price we might pay.  Nothing and no one can compare to our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.            
       Oh might we prize Him for Who He is the--the Prize above all prizes, the Treasure above all treasures...and our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend above all friends.
        Paul's race is finished and he's even now, hearing His Lord joyfully proclaim to him, Well done, good and faithful Paul!  Enter into the joy of Your Savior!  
        Father, one glorious day we all long to hear those same words when we, too, are standing in Your radiant presence in glory.  Keep us focused on You with every step we take.  Keep us fixed on Your Word and Your promises.  And, oh, Lord Jesus, keep us faithful by Your grace.  Your glorious grace that gives us forgiveness in our failures, empowerment in our emptiness, and strength in our weakness...like Paul, all the way to the finish line.  
       To God be the glory.