For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy4:6-8
As you may have read in my previous blog (LIFE QUOTES-The Definition) the Ramos manhood definition is simply: “To reject passivity, accept responsibility, pursue God passionately, lead courageously and finish strong.” I have discovered a profound truth in life that you do not have to be the best, to be the best. Yes, you read that right.
Talent does not equal excellence. Potential means nothing if sitting on a coach. First impressions may get you on the team but never get you on the field. Paper fires never burn long without a log. In other words, in order to be the best you simply have to outlast the rest. Life is a test of attrition and the last one standing wins. When I was in seventh grade I read a small sign in the Laguna Middle School locker room that changed my life (LIFE QUOTES-Art of Quitting).
That sign read, “A winner never quits. A quitter never wins.”
Never wins.
Never.
Last year we made shirts for our freshman team with that quote on it. Speaking of quitters, last week I heard about a man who is divorcing his wife. When I pushed on his Biblical grounds for such a horrible thing the gentleman I was speaking to responded, “But she is a slob!”
She is not an adulteress. She is simply, “A slob.” Did I really just hear that correctly? In a church?
My poor wife would have left me years ago. Thank God Shanna is such a faithful finisher! In our wedding vows I actually promised Shanna I would do the best I can at cleaning up after myself around the house! I still forget to put the toilet seat down only to be reminded when I hear the two-in-the-morning-SPLASH!
“Oops. Sorry babe!”
Like Shanna sitting on an open toilet seat at 2:00 a.m. Paul was tired. He was beat up. He hung in there. Paul had been “poured out” for the ministry but he finished strong. Men finish. Men finish well. Men finish strong even if it is tough, even if it hurts.
Finishing is not an option for a man. Boys quit. Boys throw in the towel. When the going gets tough, and trust me it will, boys go home. Boys leave their wives with no biblical grounds. Men stay. Men finish their race with Christ, finish their marriages, finish raising their children, finish their careers, and hopefully finish putting down the toilet seat when they are done!
