Finishing Well

"Back in the 1960s the band The Monkees sang about how no one seemed to believe in absolute morals anymore. In Shades of Grey they sang:

When the world and I were young,

Just yesterday.

Life was such a simple game …

It was easy then to tell right from wrong …

Today there is no black or white,

Only shades of grey.

Many today no longer believe there is such a thing as absolute right or absolute wrong. Stark contrasts and black-and-white distinctions are not always easy to swallow in a society in which relativism is the order of the day. Everything is relative – a matter of degrees.

As followers of Jesus we cannot give in to these relativistic ideas. We must be open to the prophetic voice of Scripture, which often traces stark contrasts, urgent ethical choices and diverging paths in the midst of complex problems and situations.

In our Old Testament passage for today we read of extreme evil: sexual abuse, murder and conspiracy. On the other hand, in our New Testament reading, we read of extreme good – the outpouring of the Holy Spirit enabling people to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders. The reality of right and wrong are very clear in today’s passages, and there are stark contrasts between the two.

Psalm 71:9-18

Finishing well vs perishing in shame

The psalmist is determined to finish well. He writes, ‘Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone … Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come’ (vv.9,18).

This is in stark contrast to the fate of his enemies who he hopes will ‘perish in shame’ (v.13). From the New Testament perspective, this is probably not the right way to pray for one’s enemies! However, it is certainly true that some people seem to ‘perish in shame’. It is a tragic way for anyone’s life to end.

The psalmist contrasts himself with those who perish in shame. He writes ‘but as for me …’ (v.14). He wants to continue to be close to the Lord to the end of his life. In fact, he wants the end of his life to be even more fruitful than the beginning. He says, ‘I will praise you more and more’ (v.14). Every generation has the responsibility of passing the baton ‘to the next generation’ (v.18). Succession planning is a key part of finishing well.

Lord, help me to finish well and to declare your power to the next generation. Help me to praise you more and more. May my mouth tell of your righteousness and proclaim your mighty acts."

1. Thank You Lord that You provide only the truth. Help me to finish well.

2. Crabs! Ohh lala, thank You for a tasty and meaty plate.

3. Thank You for a batch of people whom You have put in my life, no matter how short their stay here is.