No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.  1 Corinthians 9:27 

 

What did Samson, Solomon, and Saul have in common? They started strong, but they didn't finish strong! Samson finished up losing his sight, his strength, his freedom, his testimony, his anointing, his usefulness, and his life. One day John Basagno, pastor of First Baptist Church in Houston, told his friend John Maxwell, 'When I was called to preach at 21, my father-in-law told me that only one person out of every ten who enters the ministry will still be in it when they reach 65.' He continued, 'I've written in my Bible the names of 25 friends who went to Bible College with me. I'm a long way from 65, but 20 have already dropped out.' Then he looked earnestly at John Maxwell and said, 'I'm fighting hard to be one of those who make it. I want to finish well.' A strong start is important, but it doesn't guarantee a strong finish. The nine who don't make it are the ones who say, 'I've done enough growing, exercised enough discipline, taken enough advice, dreamed enough dreams, and set enough goals - now I'm taking it easy!' At 70, the Apostle Paul wrote, 'I run straight to the goal, with purpose in every step...Otherwise, I fear that...I myself might be disqualified' (1 Cor 9:26-27 NLT). There is no 'safe age;' no harbor free from storms - except in the centre of God's will. Remember that, if you want to finish strong!