Finish. And Finish Well.~

One night I caught the tail-end 
of a television news story. 

A veteran of The Second World War 
was being interviewed by a reporter. 

The reporter's last question 
for this precious old man 
stopped me in my tracks.

"What is your happiest memory 
from this time in your life?"

Without hesitation this warrior replied, 

"Hearing the following words. 
Oh my, I can still hear them now - 
as plain as day I can.  
‘The war is over, boys. 
It's time to go home.' "

And, 
with that, 
a lone tear 
made its way 
from his eye, 
down the wrinkle 
in his cheek.

"It was one 
of the happiest days 
of my life.  
The war was over 
and we were going home. 
We were finally going home."

As I wiped a tear 
from my own eye, 
I thought about 
the war you and I 
now find ourself in.

The war of good and evil.

The battle of light against dark.

The good fight of faith 
against the enemy of our soul.

Sometimes, 
the battle is intense -
the force of the enemy 
relentlessness, 
nonstop, day and night.

It's so easy 
to get discouraged,
to feel overwhelmed,
to grow weary in the fight,
to entertain the idea of 
throwing in the towel 
and giving up.

Sometimes, 
the sacrifice 
seems too much -
the wounds,
the losses,
the constant barrage of attack,
the surrender of self 
for the good of the cause.

And, 
I thought 
of this elderly soldier 
and all those 
who fought alongside him.

As they gave their all, 
they hoped their all 
would be enough 
to win the fight.

As they sought 
to get the upper hand, 
to be declared 
the victorious winner,
they had no way of knowing
what the final outcome 
would be.

And yet, 
they stayed,  
they fought,
they stuck it out 
and fought 
to the end.

Thankfully,
you and I do know 
who will be 
declared the winner 
in this spiritual battle.

We know that one day,
Jesus, Himself, 
in all of His glory,
splendor, and might 
will return to this earth.

We know that one day,
every knee will bow 
and every tongue will confess 
that Jesus is Lord.

We know that one day,
we too, 
will hear words
that will bring 
tears to our eyes.

"The war is over, children.  
It's time to go home."

Knowing what we know,
and knowing who we know,
can we really afford 
to let the enemy 
get the better of us?

Absolutely not.

~Stacy

Fight on for God. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you and that you have confessed with such a ringing confession before many witnesses.
~1 Timothy 6:12 (TLB)

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