July 29, 2007

Attitude Adjustments: Perseverance

Never Give Up!

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Opening Words: Austrian psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.” He knew what we often forget, our attitudes about life are extremely important. They affect the way that we experience life. It is for this reason that I decided to dedicate this section of the year to examining our attitudes. I have called this fourteen week sermon series, Attitude Adjustments. This is the last sermon in the series. Today, we look at our attitude about perseverance. Do you consider yourself a good finisher? Let me call this weekend’s message, Never Give Up!

My favorite United States President and theologian, Calvin Coolidge once said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated idiots. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” So if you are ready to press on and hear this message say, “Amen!” 

2 Timothy 4:6-8 ⁶For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.

One of the featured events in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City was the marathon. The twenty six mile race took the runners through the streets of that massive city but the event ended within the Olympic stadium. The stadium exploded with excitement when the runners entered the stadium and crossed the finish line. If you don’t remember, the race was won by an Ethiopian. As is the tradition, the medals were given, the national anthem was played and the next event was started. However, there was still one runner on the course.

The last runner in the marathon in 1968 was from Tanzania. He had been injured early in the race but he kept running. After 30 kilometers his head was throbbing, his muscles were aching and he fell to the ground. His had a serious leg injury and officials urged him to retire, but he refused. With his knee bandaged he picked himself up and hobbled the remaining 12 kilometers. With no one noticing he collapsed over the finish line. It is one of the most heroic efforts of Olympic history. Afterward, he was asked by a reporter why he didn’t drop out. He said, "My country did not send me to start the race. They sent me to finish." It has been thirty-nine years sense the Olympic flames burned over Mexico City but the lesson from the runner still burns bright. How you finish is far more important then how you started.

If you do not believe me then ask Judas Iscariot. The brother had such a bright start. He was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve. For three years he experienced the best that Jesus had to offer. He heard the Master’s powerful teachings. He saw the Master’s powerful miracles. He experienced the presence of Jesus and saw the difference that Jesus made in people’s lives. He should be remembered as being one of the saints of the church but he ended poorly.

Every December we go crazy about the beginning of Jesus’ life. We decorate our homes and churches with Christmas decorations. We sing Christmas carols during the season of Advent. We buy presents for everyone we know because we remember how the Magi brought gifts to the infant Jesus of gold, frankincense and mere. You can bet that every church will be filled on Christmas Eve because we value in our society getting off to a good start. However, that is really not how the Bible teaches us. What does the Bible say? The Bible says there is more value in how one ends. Only one of the four gospels mentions Jesus birth but all four mention his ending, the resurrection.

It is even true of the author of the scripture lesson today. The Apostle Paul got off to such a good start. He went to school to be a leader within Orthodox Judaism. He skyrocketed to the top of his profession. He became well known for persecuting the church and then everything changed on the Damascus Road. The Apostle Paul knew better then everyone else that how you finish is far more important then how you start. That is what Paul is saying in the Second Letter to Timothy. For him the race is almost over. He sees the finish line of his life. He knows death is on his horizon. He writes to this young pastor these memorable words, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” As a disciple of Jesus Christ your persistence is crucial.

So my question for you today is, "Are you are good finisher?" The purpose of this church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Part of that process is accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. That is a wonderful moment in a person’s life. The angels in heaven sing when one soul is saved but that is not the end of the story. The singing angels really act as a starting gun. The new convert now must begin this marathon we call life. Life is complex. Sometimes you experience some wonderful things. Sometimes you experience some hard things. Let us be honest we experience many forgettable things. Life is a marathon. Time is always moving forward and like it or not you are drawing closer to your finish line everyday. How we finish is so very important. That is what the Apostle Paul is telling us in the year 50 and what the Tanzanian marathoner told us in 1968.

My goal this weekend is to encourage you to be a good finisher. I do not know where you are on your personal timeline but don’t stop running prematurely. You are in this world for a reason. God expects you complete the race and never give up. As disciples of Jesus Christ consider three fast rules. First, if you are going to be a strong finisher you must never give up on yourself. Second, if you are going to be a strong finisher then you must never give up on the church. Third, if you are going to be a strong finisher then never give up on Jesus. So if you are ready for my three fast rules say, “Amen!”

Never give up on yourself!

Fast rule number one says: never give up on yourself. Has there been a time in your life when it was would have been easy to give up on yourself? Every word we receive is not a word of encouragement. When I was in college I had a good friend by the name of Ron. He was a graduate of Akron Garfield High School and heard his calling into the ministry at a young age. He always told the story of going to see his high school guidance counselor. The counselor asked him what he was going to do after graduation. He told him he was going to college to study for the ministry. The counselor looked at him and his grades and said, “Ron, I just don’t see it. I would advice you to go to a trade school. There will always be a need fore a good welder.” Ron never stopped believing in himself or his calling. The day after we graduated from Mount Union Ron went back to Akron Garfield High School to show that counselor his trade school diploma. He handed his counselor his diploma and said, “I told you so.” I saw Ron at Annual Conference. He has been in the ministry for twenty-five years. One of the things that I respected so much about Ron was that he never gave up on himself. His is not the only his story. Many famous people got some bad advice.

Charles Darwin did so poorly in school that his father once told him, "You will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family.”

G.K. Chesterton, the English writer, could not read until he was eight. One of his teachers told him, "If we could open your head we should not find any brain but only a lump of white fat."

Thomas Edison's first teacher described him as "addled," and his father almost convinced him he was a "dunce."

Albert Einstein's parents feared their child was dull, and he performed so badly in all high school courses except mathematics that a teacher asked him to drop out.

When Fred Aster made his first screen test at MGM the following memo was written: can’t act, slightly bald, can dance a little.

Beethoven’s teacher said he was hopeless as a composer.

Caruso’s first teacher said he didn’t have a voice to sing

Walt Disney was fired from his first job as a cartoonist at the Kansas City Star because his boss said he couldn’t draw and lacked creativity.

Do you see a pattern here? It doesn’t matter what other are saying about you. The only opinion that matters is your own. The Apostle Paul never stopped believing in himself and neither should you. You are a child of God. You were made in God image. You are full of untapped potential. And all of God persistent people said, “Amen!”

Never give up on the church!

Fast rule number two says: never give up on the church. Has there ever been a time in your life when you were ready to give up on the church? During one of my earlier trips to Russia I met a woman who was involved in one of our local United Methodist congregations. On the trip she told me about how frustrated she was with her church. That congregation had many internal problems. In time she joined another church in her community. Less then a year later, the papers were filled with a scandal that filled that church. She left that church and joined a secular humanist group. They meet, read poetry, help the poor and the illiterate. She says she is happy but I wonder about the condition of her soul.

Have you ever stopped to consider all the scandals that the church has endured in the past thirty years? The passing of Tammy Faye Messner reminded me of those ugly days at PTL. Then there was the Jimmy Swaggert scandal. Then there was the scandal within the Roman Catholic Church. New victims seem to be appearing all the time. Do you know of a church that doesn’t has a scandal in their past? Bishop John Hopkins says, “People are still asking spiritual questions but they no longer trust the church to give them the answer.” I believe that is true. It was be easy to give up on the institutional church but don’t do it. God has entrusted us with a message that is so powerful that it will and has changed the world. Is ever moment in the life of the church victorious? No! However, the final victory outweighs the frustrations. That is the lesson that church history teaches us.

We think of John Wesley as being a successful person, for example. He was successful because he was persistent and never gave on the church. Just listen to these words from his diary.

Sunday, A.M., May 5 Preached in St. Anne's. Was asked not to come back anymore.
Sunday, P.M., May 5 Preached in St. John's. Deacons said "Get out and stay out."
Sunday, A.M., May 12 Preached in St. Jude's. Can't go back there, either.
Sunday, A.M., May 19 Preached in St. Somebody Else's. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn't return.
Sunday, P.M., May 19 Preached on street. Kicked off street.
Sunday, A.M., May 26 Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during service.
Sunday, A.M., June 2 Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway.
Sunday, P.M., June 2 Afternoon, preached in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me.

I respect John Wesley so much and for so many reasons. One of the reasons was that he never gave up on the church. The Apostle Paul endured all kinds of thing in his ministry but he never gave up on the church. They never gave up because the Gospel message was too important. If we give up on the church then who will spread the Gospel message to our generation? Never give up on the church! And all of God persistent people said, “Amen!”

Never give up on Jesus!

Fast rule number three says: never give up on Jesus. Let me be very brief. The face of America is changing. Christianity is no longer the only show in town. In the last several years we have looked at other world religions and cults that exist within our own community. These other belief systems have exposed our poor theology. Let me ask you this question. Is the only reason you are a Christian because you parents were Christian? Or are you a Christian because you have experienced a personal relationship with Him. Never give up on Jesus. He came to give us abundant life now and promised us abundant life when we die. And all of God persistent people said, “Amen!” Let me end with this story.

Let us be honest Sir Winston Churchill was a slow starter but a great finisher. Winston Churchill seemed so dull as a youth that his father thought he might be incapable of earning a living in England. It took him three years to pass the eighth grade! However, he was good finisher. On October 29, 1941, he gave the commencement address at Oxford University. He was a master at public speaking. He arrived with his usual props, a cigar, a cane and a top hat. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause. With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd and stood confident before his admirers. Removing the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium, Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang in Churchill's voice as he shouted, "Never give up!" Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated: "Never give up!" His words thundered in their ears. There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane and left the platform. His commencement address was finished.

You are still in this world for a reason. God is not done with you yet. Never give up! Never give up on yourself. You were made in the image of God. Never give up on the church. God has entrusted with a message to change the world. Never give up on Jesus. He is your only hope of salvation. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”