Please turn with me to 2 Timothy 4 - starting at verse 6.  As you’re turning think with me about what it means to finish well.

Does anyone remember who ran against Franklin Pierce in the 1852 presidential election?  Represented the Whig party?  General Winfield Scott - beat President Fillmore for the party nomination.

Little easier:  Who plays tommorrow - NCAA Championship?  Florida and Ohio State.  Question:  Who did Michigan State beat in the first round of March Madness?  Marquette:  61-49.

Unless there’s some real significance that stands out in our mind we tend to remember the winners more than the losers.  True?  We remember those who finish well.

One of the most prestigious events of the Olympic Games is the Marathon - 26 miles - 385 yards - a test of human endurance.  In the 1968 Summer Olympic Games, held in Mexico City, John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania started with the other runners but fell way behind the leaders.  Have you heard this?

At the finish line - the 100,000 plus spectators packing Olympic Stadium - cheered the winners of the race.  Other runners entered the stadium and crossed the finish line to the cheers of the crowd.  The race was over.  People started packing up - getting ready for other things.

Then, one lone runner entered the stadium - John Stephen Akhwari.  Akhwari’s pace was slow.  His steps were wobbly.  His knee was bloody and bandaged from a fall earlier in the race.  He looked terrible.  As He entered the stadium and began to slowly complete that last lap around the track a few spectators began to realize who he was and what he was doing.  As Akhwari slowly - painfully - crossed the finish line - they cheered - saluting the man’s determination.

After the race, Akhwari was asked - what kept you going?  Why didn’t you quit?  Great line:  Akhwari said, “My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race.  They sent me here to finish.”

That Akhwari didn’t win is not as significant as how he ran the race.  He’s remembered for his courage and determination - that he persevered and finished the course.

Take a look at this.  What does it say?

Does this help?

Rev. Otis Moss - preaching at the funeral of Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr., - the mother of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. - Rev. Moss preached a sermon about “the little dash between.”  Have you heard that phrase?  He pointed out that on Mrs. King’s tomb stone there would be her name and a couple of dates - when she was born and when she died - and then a little dash - a line - in between.  Rev. Moss didn’t talk about Mrs. King’s birth date or the day she died.  He talked about that little dash - describing Mrs. King’s life. (1)

How we run - how we live life - going from birth to death - is crucial.  Running that way - through the finish line - is essential.  Thinking about what it takes to do that - the Character of a Committed Christian - to remain consistent in our walk with God - to go the distance with Jesus - this morning we’re coming to where Paul - as he’s looking at the finish line - Paul shares his feelings about how he’s run the race and what means to finish the course.

2 Timothy 4 - verse 6:  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

Verse 6 is Paul’s description of how Paul views his death.  Say that with me, “How Paul views his death.”

The word for departure is the Greek word “analousis.”  Think “loose.”  When a ship was going to set out for sea they would “analousis” - loosen - its moorings.  The word was used of soldiers breaking camp - loosening their tent pegs - pulling up stakes - getting ready to move on.

Paul is writing from a stinking - dark - damp - cold - unsanitary - jail cell - the guest of the Christian hating nut case Emperor Nero.  He’s writing - probably in the late fall.  Tradition tells us that on an April morning - about 6 months later - about this time of the year - Paul was taken out of that cell - taken out to the Ostian Way - outside the city of Rome - and beheaded.  

The time of Paul’s loosing has come.  Literally - its really close.

Paul - viewing the upcoming certainty of his death - he’s not anxious - thinking that all this is some disaster - some unfair cosmic mistake - something to fear.  He’s not whining and talking about all the things he regrets doing or not having done.

According to Old Testament law when as animal was sacrificed - as an appeal for God’s forgiveness - a drink offering - which consisted of about a quart of wine or up to a half gallon of wine - depending on what was being sacrificed - a lamb, a ram, or a bull - while the animal was burning on the altar - a drink offering was prepared and gradually poured out over the animal being sacrificed.  Poured out until there was nothing left.  It was the final act in the entire sacrificial ceremony.  It was an offering which was to be a pleasing aroma before the Lord.

Paul draws on that image.  “I’ve been poured out.”  The time of my being poured out to God is coming to an end.

Do you hear Paul’s heart?  “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  (Philippians 1:21)  He’s been poured out.  Everything that could have been given has been given.  There’s nothing left in reserve.  His life has been totally sacrificed to God.

Grab on to that image - to be poured out to God is to be ready for death.  Say that with me, “To be poured out to God is to be ready for death.”

Going on - verse 7:  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

Verse 7 is how Paul summarizes his life.  Say that with me, “How Paul summarizes his life.”  He uses three phrases.

First:  “I have fought the good fight.”

The Greek words for “fought” and “fight” are both related - “agonizomai” and “agona.”  “Agona” is the word we get what from?  “Agony.”  “I’ve agonized the good agony.”

“No pain no…  gain.”  “Agona” is an athletic term.  It talks about the struggle - the striving - the effort - the training - the early mornings and late nights of practice - the endurance - the all out commitment needed to win.  What it means to keep going when by all reasonable standards we should quit.  Its agony. 

In Ephesians 6 - Paul writes, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)  That doesn’t sound like a Sunday School picnic.  That’s a hard - takes everything we’ve got - agonizing - lifetime commitment to perseverance - to being poured out.

Paul - summarizing his life - Paul writes, “I’ve done that well.  I fought well.”

Second phrase:  “I have finished the course.”  I finished the race - the Christian life.  To finish means that there is nothing left to the course.  I didn’t quit 10 yards short of the finish line.  I’ve turned in my best performance.  I’ve done everything Jesus asked of me.  I’ve done it with a right attitude and I’ve done it well.

Third phrase:  “I have kept the faith.”

The strongest part of a castle - impenetrable - impervious to attack - the strongest part of a castle was a high towerlike structure with thick walls.  It as called the “keep.”  It could be defended even when the rest of the castle was captured or destroyed.

To “have kept” means to have guarded - to have preserved - to have watched over - the faith.  As Christians we’re entrusted with a priceless treasure - the faith - what we believe and live by - the Gospel of salvation and life in Jesus Christ.  We must be committed to protecting what’s been entrusted to us.

There are many who are not.  Paul writes in his letters about men like Hymenaeus and Alexander and Philetus - those and other men that Paul and Timothy and the Church struggled with.  Who had dropped that ball.  Who had turned from their faith - were leading others away from God.  Throughout church history there have been men and women - in leadership - maybe as close as our family members - who have fallen into sin.  Who have disgraced the faith.  Who have turned away from God.

Paul writes, “I got the ball.  I tucked it in - protected it.  Satan and his minions would have loved to have stripped it from me.  But I held on  - ran with it all the way into the end zone.”

Paul summarizes his life:  I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

Verse 8:  In the future 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.

Verse 8 is Paul’s expectation for the future.  Say that with me, “Paul’s expectation for the future.”

There are four expectations.  First:  The Crown of Righteousness.

Be careful.  This doesn’t mean that Paul is going to be made righteous.  God puts us into a right relationship with Him - makes us to be righteous - when we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior.  Paul is writing about what will be awarded to those who are righteous.

The word for crown is “stephanos.”  A word I’m very partial to.  It’s the laurel wreath that was awarded to the winner of the Marathon - placed on the winner’s head.

In 1 Corinthians 9:25 - Paul writes, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.  They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.”

The crown of righteousness is eternal life - imperishable - which is awarded to those who have lived righteous.  It testifies of how that life was lived - the dash - the character of the one crossing the finish line. 

Second expectation:  That crown is going to be given to him by Jesus, the righteous Judge.

Do you know who Jacques Rogge is?  Jacques Rogge is the President of the International Olympic Committee.  Win the marathon - step up to the stop platform - Jacques Rogge comes out - gives you a perishable gold medal - some girl hands you a bouquet of roses and gives you kiss on the cheek.. 

Paul’s writing about something way better.  Nero - the unrighteous judge  - knowing full well that Paul is righteous - innocent of the charges - is going to award Paul with physical death - an undeserved sentence.  Jesus - is going to reverse that decision by awarding Paul with what is deserved.  Jesus knowing everything there is to know about Paul - Jesus having made Paul to be righteous - will personally give Paul the crown of righteousness - declaring that Paul has been made righteous and is awarded eternal life.

Third expectation:  The crown will be awarded on “that day.”  That day is the way Scripture refers to the end - the future day when all of what God is about doing in history will be revealed - will reach its climax.  When references to time will no longer have meaning because we’re going to enter into eternity.  Some will enter eternity with God.  Some will enter eternity without God.

How that works out in terms of Paul dying back in 67 AD and “that day” being still in the future I don’t know.  Its like one of those Star Trek space time anomalies.  Trying to explain eternity from a finite perspective - we’re pretty limited.  But, God has all that worked out.

Bottom line:  On the day he is judged - Paul knows what Jesus will award him with.  He’s going to be with God - forever.

Fourth expectation:  Not only is Paul going to get a crown of righteousness - but so will everyone else who has loved Jesus’ appearing.

Jesus’ appearing - is about two bookends.  The first bookend is the first coming of Jesus - who through His work here on earth offered salvation - the reality of eternal life in the presence of God - offered through His broken body and spilled blood.  Bookend two is His return in judgment - “that day” - when Jesus will claim His bride - His people - those who have trusted Him as their Savior - and dispatch the unrepentant to hell.  (John 5:21-27)

Those who have loved Jesus’ appearing are those who have trusted in Him as Savior and who are waiting with expectation for His return - for that day - for the awarding of our crowns of righteousness.

That’s amazing.  Paul’s expectation and ours - is that one day all those who love Jesus are going to meet Him face to face.  We’re going to worship Him together - serve Him together - live forever with Him.  The crud of this world will be over - no more tears - no pain - no death.  We’re going to have bodies that don’t break down.  We’re going live like we can’t even begin to imagine.  But, a kind of life that we deeply long for.  That is a tremendous expectation isn’t it?

Paul - looking forward to his death - sees himself as having been poured out for God.  All that’s been required of Him has been accomplished.  There are no regrets.  He’s been faithful with what has been entrusted to him.  He has fought the good fight.  His expectation is eternity with God.

How many of you have seen the movie Schindler’s list?

Oskar Schindler was not much of a businessman.  But in 1941 - Oskar Schindler moved to Krakow to take advantage of the business opportunities created by the German occupation.  That move began the most successful part of Oskar’s life.

Oskar began a enamelware factory - produced mess kits and field kitchenware for the German army.  He convinced Jewish business men - relocated to the Jewish Krakow ghetto - convinced Jews to front the money for the factory.  He employed Jews at 7 marks for skilled laborers - 5 marks for the unskilled and women - because the Jews were cheaper than Poles.  Schindler made a fortune - obscene amounts of money. 

Then Schindler began to see how the Nazi regime was treating the Jews.  So Schindler began to employ hundreds of Jews - essential workers or not - skilled or otherwise.  The factory became a place of hope and life.

When the Germans ordered the Jews relocated to Auschwitz for “special treatment” - Schindler put together a list - the names of over 1,100 Jews - went to Amon Goeth - the commandant of the forced labor camp - and bought every single Jew on that list.

He moved them to Brinnlitz, Czechoslovakia - his home town.  There - at his own expense - he started a factory.  A munitions factory.  Where these Jews worked in safety.

There’s a scene in the munitions factory where Itzhak Stern - Schindler’s manager is talking with Schindler.  Stern says, “There’s a rumor you’ve been going around recalibrating the machines…  We’ve received angry complaints from the Armaments Board.  Apparently the artillery shells, tank shells, rocket casings all of them have failed quality control.”

Schindler says, “Stern, if this factory ever produces a shell that can actually be fired I’ll be very unhappy.”

At the end of the war - the Jews are about to be liberated - Schindler who had made an unimaginable fortune is now broke.  He’s spent every last Pfennig buying Jews - running a factory that never made any money. 

The scene I’d like to show you takes place outside the munitions factory as Schindler and the Jews say goodbye.

(Schindler’s List - reel 2:  43:20-47:00)  Point - Schindler:  “I could have done more.”

So many people come to the end of their lives - or at least to the point where they can view their own death approaching - and suddenly they realize - looking at the finish line - that the dash - the course they’ve run - was empty - selfish maybe - but with no legacy of value to leave behind.  Angry - fearful - they begin a futile attempt to relive what never can be reclaimed.

Y’adults - learn now to choose wisely how you live.  You can’t go back.

Are all the things we surround ourselves with and convince ourselves are necessities - the things we spend our money and time on that we feel we deserve - are they as important as people who need to know Jesus?  As Christians - may we not come to where we can view the end our lives and find ourselves weeping because we could have done more - spent our money differently - used our time more wisely - been more sacrificial - more passionate about the salvation of others.

One question:  Are you being poured out? 

(Concluding Song:  "Faith of our Fathers")

Benediction...

What does being poured out have to do with Palm Sunday?  Jesus riding into Jerusalem is a familiar scene for us.  Pilgrims - coming together from all over the Jewish Diaspora are gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Festival - commemorating God’s salvation of His people from Pharaoh - from bondage in Egypt.

As Jesus enters, they cry out, “Hosanna to the Son of David.  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9)  Throngs of people celebrating His coming.

By Friday - Jesus is alone.  He’s mocked - beaten - rejected.  Even His closest disciples are fearfully keeping their distance.

Palm Sunday points to the importance of how live and the essential of finishing well.  Jesus did.  He poured out His life.  The others did not.

As you leave today - thinking about Palm Sunday - going the distance - being poured out.  Tell the person next to you, “Let’s finish well.”

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1. Jimmy Carter, Living Faith