#TheFathersWord - Remember Why you Started

'Remember why you Started'

'If you remember why you have started, then you will get to the end of your journey'

There are people who have started, but didn't finish. There are people who started but forgot where they were going and there are people who simply don't start.

On the other hand there a group of people who start and they finish, they finish what they start. These people know where they are going and so they don't give up, they know the great prize at the end so they will carry on and get to the end in whatever means possible.

Let's look at athletes, formula one drivers, all these famous sportsmen etc. Whenever they start a race or they start a football match or even a new season, they know that the prize or the trophy will come at the end, when the chequered flag is waved, when the team lifts the trophy or when the athlete receives his medal. All this was because they started at the beginning, they started and they got going.

The reason why they won and never gave is because they remembered why they had started

Now, lets look to scripture so we can set the foundation and have a starting point.

2 Timothy 4 v 7 – 8

'I have fought a good fight of faith, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing'

Before Paul came to the end of his life or his time on earth, we learn that he was persecuted, he was thrown in prison, he was abandoned by people (John Mark) who came with him on his journey. Now, you could have agreed with Paul if he had given up when no one was around him, he could have quit his journey and went back home but he didn't do that. He knew what was at stake, he knew what he could enjoy if he just finished his journey. After all he had gone through, after all was said and done, there he was on his bed at the end of his course, ready to receive the crown of righteousness which had been prepared for him.

'I have finished my course, I kept the faith' – This might mean different things for you all but for everyone what connects them is this – You are all on a journey, no matter where it is, but you are on a journey. Maybe you've lost the first game or you lost the first race or you are stuck on the bench waiting to be called up into the first team squad, in this instance you can never lose your faith. There's people who have started a journey but then the road gets longer, they get stuck in traffic jams and their faith starts to diminish but remember why you started, remember why you started to make the journey and you will get to the end.

At the end of that passage, Paul said that not only is the same crown of righteousness available to him, it is available to everyone, it is available to me and you, all we need to do is to fight the good fight of faith. That could mean making several journeys, that could mean sacrificing your time to get something right, it could mean waiting for the light to turn from red to green, it could even mean waiting to be called into the room, whatever it is remember why you started and keep the good fight of faith.

'If you remember why you have started, then you will get to the end of your journey'

It could be writing a book, starting a business or just simply reconnecting to God but whatever it is, remember why you started

Today, I want you to remember why you started – Why did you start? What is it that you have started? What was behind your decision to start?

Don't stop. Maybe you've got out of the car or got off the bike because you thought you couldn't finish but remember why you started and get back on that road and start again.......

'Remember why you started'