“I have fought a good fight, 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.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8
These words were written by the Apostle Paul when he knew he would be executed in likely only a few days as a martyr for Christ. He realized that his course was nearly complete and that God had promised him a great reward.
We have now completed our course for this academic year. Students have taken their last test, completed their last project, and even run their last lap in PE class. It is interesting how much the Bible focuses on how we finish, not just the fact that we do finish.
Paul could thank the Lord for His grace that he had finished by keeping the faith entrusted to him. It is the hope and prayer of each staff member at LCA that our students will hold on to what they have been taught here at school. From our youngest students in Mrs. Mansfield’s K3 class, our students memorize the Bible and learn songs based on Scripture. We desire for our students to quote those verses in their heads, especially when they are tempted to do something wrong or are discouraged for one reason or another.
We should also notice that God had promised Paul a reward for his faithfulness all the way to the end and that it is not just Paul who will receive this reward, but all those who faithfully waiting for the return of Christ. LCA gives awards each year to recognize academic achievement, and it is proper that we do so, but this recognition from the same God who spoke the universe into existence will be so much greater than anything we would receive during our lives.
Here at the completion of another school year, we should remember the importance of faithful endings. The Lord will reward us for how we finish, but it should always be our love for Him that motivates us most of all. After all, we know that because we are empowered by His Holy Spirit, we will return each reward back to our Savior in gratitude for His great love for us!