"Follow Through"

 

“Follow Through”

 

Shortly after moving to Lakeland I joined a bowling league made up of residents and friends of our community. I hadn’t bowled regularly in decades so it took a while to rehone my skills (which were limited to begin with) and achieve a respectable average. Then with the aging process came some physical problems which caused my scores to go south. Recently, though, with friends’ suggestions, I made some adjustments and saw improvement. The biggest change was to follow through after releasing the ball—failure to do so often leads to less than desirable results. The same principle can be applied to golf swings, baseball pitching and basketball shots.

In my first ministry role as a youth pastor the lead pastor spoke to me about my “follow through”. He noticed my tendency not to see my assignments through to completion which often led to mediocre outcomes. With this sage counsel and God’s help I became more aware of this need in my life and over the years I’ve done better at not leaving tasks unfinished.

As I thought about this bowling hint and my pastoral mentor’s observation I saw Paul’s words in Philippians 1:6 in a new light: “(I am) confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Emphasis added). I realized that God started His work in my life when I received Christ as a grade schooler and won’t stop guiding and shaping me until I’m Home with Him. I’m a work of God’s grace (“…By the grace of God I am what I am….”—1 Corinthians 15:10) and He’ll follow through for as long as I live on earth. He hasn’t given up on me and He never will.

We could also say that God followed through with His plan of redemption, His “…eternal purpose….” (Ephesians 3:11), that “(Christ) was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:25, NLT). Just as God didn’t leave His work of creation incomplete (“…The heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.”—Genesis 2:1) and Jesus “…completed the task (His Father) gave (Him) to do.” (John 17:4, PH) we can say with David, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me….” (Psalm 138:8). God is a “follow through” God—may we be “follow through” believers honoring Him.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan