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Finishing the Race
Luke 8:5-15
The Fourth Sunday of Luke,
October 14, 2001

Earlier this week, I read the following lines in an article by Peter Maas on "Islamic Paradise:" "Nawaf Alhazmi, one of the suspected Sept. 11 hijackers, left behind a letter that outlined last-minute things he should do and think about, such as not forgetting his passport and ensuring he was not being followed. The letter, according to the FBI, also included these lines: 'Keep a very open mind, keep a very open heart about what you are to face. You will be entering paradise. You will be entering the happiest life, everlasting life.'" Maas comments, "That is questionable. The Quran forbids suicide and the killing of innocent people, so it's more than likely that the 19 men who murdered more than 6,000 civilians last month will wake up in the last place they expected to be - hell."

What a rude awakening it would be indeed to end your life with an act that you were sure would earn you paradise, and instead to find yourself in the flames of hell! But this consideration isn't simply for terrorists, suicide bombers, would-be martyrs, and Muslims to contemplate; it is something that ought to give us Christians pause as well.

Most of us assume rather readily, I think, that we are going to go to heaven, (it certainly would be daunting to go through life presuming the opposite). But if the saints teach us anything, they would teach us to be very careful about such an assumption.

Let me put the thought to you in a direct and chilling way: If the New Testament is correct, the law of averages has it that there are some here among us today who will not go to heaven, but instead, wake up to find themselves in hell. Now, you miss the point if that causes you to look around and think, "I wonder who might not make it?" Rather, the question is, "Could it be me?"

On what basis do I say such things? Listen to the words of Jesus:
"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matt. 7: 13-14).

"Many" go to destruction, "few" enter life; therefore the law of averages has it that there would be some, even among us, who will not enter the kingdom.

And listen further: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 7: 21). Just confessing Jesus as Lord, contrary to what some say, IS NOT enough; doing the will of God is essential to salvation. So it is a mistake to presume you will be saved simply because you believe.

I know that there are those theologians who raise the question, "Well, will anyone really spend eternity in hell?" I think their questioning is entirely specious, because every time the New Testament mentions people going to heaven, it mentions people going to hell right alongside of it.

Take for example the description of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25: "Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world' . . . Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels' . . . And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (vss. 34, 41, 46). You will find the same thing if you examine the "Great White Throne Judgment" in the 20th chapter of the book of Revelation.

It would be nothing less than the height of spiritual folly to gamble one's salvation on the speculations of such theologians. And as for them, they are playing a very dangerous game where the destiny of souls is at stake.

Now let me ask a question: Are there any of you who are fans of auto racing, whether Formula One, NASCAR, IMSA, CART, or any of the many versions? If so, then tell me: how is it that one wins a race? Obviously: by being the first over the finish line.

So does that mean that it really doesn't matter if you're first off the starting line, how many laps you lead, if your car has mechanical troubles on the way or not? Right. The only thing that matters is whether you're first across the finish line.

Did you know that the Apostle Paul compares our salvation to a race? "Do you not know that in a race, all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:24-27). Did he assume that he was somehow guaranteed to win the race? No. He quite clearly says that he disciplined himself that might not fail to finish.

Listen to him again: ". . . that if possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or am made perfect; but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus lay hold of me. I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I do: forgetting that which lies behind and reaching toward those things that lie ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 11-14). Again, did he presume that he already had salvation in the bag? Absolutely not. He expressly says that he does not consider himself to have already laid hold of it. He pressed forward to insure that he would lay hold of that blessed life of resurrection in Christ.

This is why those who claim that all you have to do is just accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior to be guaranteed heaven are in total error. They confuse the starting line with the finish line. They make the mistake of thinking just because you have started the race, that guarantees you are going to finish - the exact opposite of what the Apostle Paul clearly teaches!

Now can you cross the finish line if you do not qualify to be in the race? Of course not. Accepting Christ qualifies you for the race; it puts you on the starting line. But it doesn't guarantee that you will finish!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, all of this brings us to our gospel today of "The Sower and the Seed." Let me finish with some brief observations from it. Let's contemplate Jesus' explanation of the parable.

"Those by the wayside are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved" (v. 12). Some never get into the race; they never truly receive the Word of God and come to faith in Jesus Christ. I hope I can safely presume that because you are here this morning, you have entered the race. But there those who do not. They never enter. They do not qualify; they do not make it to the starting line.

"Those on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root; they believe for awhile, and in time of temptation fall away" (v. 13). They qualify, they get to the starting line, and maybe even start the race. Perhaps they're like those who "redlight" in drag racing; they're so eager to get going that they leave the line before the green light and they're disqualified as soon as the race starts. Or maybe they burn a couple of hot laps and then they crash and burn.

I have to say we've seen this many times with catechumens; they're so eager to enter the Church, and then what happens? They're chrismated, they go along for a little while and then they're gone. They start but don't finish.

"Those among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares, and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature" (v. 14). These get out there and run the race, but they lose sight of the finish line. They are wearied by the cares, riches and pleasures of life. Staying in the race becomes too difficult and demanding, so they exit the track for some ease and comfort, and to preoccupy themselves with other things. Some just run out of fuel. They might run a good race for long time, they might complete many laps, but they never finish.

"That on the good ground are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience" (v. 15). These are those who finish the race. Yes, they have to make their pit stops for refueling and tire changes (perhaps that's what we're doing here this morning, what the sacraments are for). They may even break down and need repairs (repentance and forgiveness?). They have to be patient and to pace themselves, they have to endure and have stamina, but you know what? They finish the race. They inherit the kingdom. Then they hear those blessed words: "Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

My brothers and sisters in Christ, in this race that is the pathway to God's kingdom, everyone who crosses the finish line wins. You don't have necessarily to be first or be the best, you simply have to finish. And MAY YOU finish; May you complete your life in peace and repentance - faithful to the very end. God forbid that even one of us have the rude awakening, like the terrorists, of anticipating heaven but finding ourselves in hell, for as Jesus says,
"There ... , there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

May God guide each and every one us safely on the pathway of his kingdom, for we know the way, and the way is Christ himself. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life . . . glory to him unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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