FINISHING STRONG

FINISHING STRONG

To understand today’s topic, please take time to read 2 Chronicles Chapters 22-24

Before the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona, Spain, Nigeria has been struggling at the Olympics, but this particular year, the Nigeria ladies had won a bronze medal in 4x100m women race and their male counterparts were in the final that has the likes of USA, Britain, Cuba, Unified Team comprising the former 12 Soviet Union nations, Japan, Austria and Ivory Coast. Eventually, the race began, our boys were too sluggish at the beginning but Oluyemi Kayode who took the last leg ran the race of his life to beat Britain and Cuba to come second behind USA, Nigeria came back home with 3 silvers and 1 bronze medals in that year. Finishing strong and well should be the ultimate goal of every believer.

King Joash was seven years old when he began to reign in Judah; he came to the throne with great efforts of Jehoiada the Chief Priest, after the assassination of his father (Ahaziah)who did that which was evil in the sight of God. When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that his son was killed, she killed all the princes and ruled over Judah, but Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (Ahaziah’s sister) hid Joash from Athaliah, so that she slew him not. So Joash was hid with Jehoiada and Jehoshabeath in the temple for six years.

Jehoiada, a priest died at a good old age and was buried with the Kings of Judah, at the graveyard belonging to the kings. After the death of Jehoiada, Joash who started well with God, did that which was good at the beginning, began to misbehave, he joined the people of the land to worship other gods and when Zechariah the son of Jehoiada who helped him to the throne was sent by God to warn him of his atrocities, Joash conspired against him (and his other brothers) and stoned him to death, he remembered not the kindness of Jehoiada. Before the end of the same year, Joash died a miserable death, his enemy left him with great diseases and his own servants conspired against him too for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

Beloved, how do you want your end to be, to reign with Christ or be buried with the devil? If Christ comes today how sure are you to reign with Him? You have been fervent for the things of God at the beginning but now you have changed and becoming cold. Remember, Joash who started well with God and could not finish well, he a king was not buried with his forefathers, but ordinary priest who was not entitled to such privilege was buried with the Kings. Jehoiada became the only priest in Israel and Judah that was buried with the king. Therefore, retrace your steps back to God today so as to see God in glory. You will end well.

Word Affirmation: I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD - Jeremiah 30:17 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“How do you want your end to be, to reign with Christ or be buried with the devil?”

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