However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24 NIV
I find Paul’s words here to be very challenging. His only aim in life was in running the race and completing the task Jesus had given to him. The task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. Nothing else mattered to him because nothing else would endure.
There are many accomplishments in my life that I look back on with joy and pride. And experiences that I am very thankful for. But when I compare them with eternity, just how significant are they? When I stand before my Lord at the end of this life, will he commend me for having walked all the way from Mexico to Canada? Will he be in awe of how many books I have read, how many weeds I have pulled, or how many marathons I have run?
Or will he be more interested in how well I have accomplished the task he has given to me? I am not saying it is wrong for me to run a marathon or hike the PCT. But those things don’t have lasting results. How much better to faithfully run the race that God has given me to run. It is what I do for the Kingdom of God that will have lasting results. And that is what I should be striving after; fruit that will last.
