You may not have ever heard his name. He lived a scandal-free life, above reproach. He was married and faithful to the same woman until her last breath just a few years ago. If you do not attend an independent Baptist church, you may not know who he was. But Jesus knows his name. Dr. Don Sisk faithfully served the Lord for most of his life. His well-written biography can be found on Amazon here. It would encourage you in your faith if you have not yet read it.
I had the privilege of sitting at the dinner table with Dr. Sisk two years ago during my graduation week. Though he was forgetful of many things, he loved talking about Jesus and all the things God had done in his life. He radiated joy and God’s glory. He just went to meet his Savior face to face a few days ago, and his life concluded in the same way he had been living for decades. Faithfully, quietly, consistently finishing his race to the end.
Dr. Sisk was a rare example in a world of pretenders. Slow and steady, he kept his eyes on Jesus. Jesus was enough and He was everything. Disappointments, trials, and bitterness could not deter him from finishing his race. His life assures those still in the race that it can be completed well. Not everyone is stumbling, diverting from the path, or giving up altogether.
When I used to run—when my 18-year-old daughter was just a baby, so it has been a long while—I could not look at the end of the goal, or it would be overwhelming. For me, I would count telephone poles and make a goal to run without stopping until I made it to the fifth one. I would take a break, then start counting poles again. The short goals kept me going until I made it to my mileage goal. Perhaps this is the secret for every believer running their spiritual race.
If we are looking for the reward at the finish line in Heaven, there is a whole lot of mileage until we get there. There are a lot of distractions. There is an enemy set on placing obstacles and tripping hazards in our way. Perhaps, the key is to see Jesus coaching us to just the next “light pole.” The fact is, our Coach is not calling us from Heaven to run our race well. He runs alongside us, reminding us that the goal is worth it. If the distractions get louder than we let our Coach’s voice be from the pages of His Word, however, we will be easier to derail. That is the reason we must steady our pace with His, listening daily for His direction, and using the obstacles as a means to see His glory at work.
One day all of us will reach the finish line of life. When those who have placed their faith in Jesus arrive in Heaven, the whole environment will revolve around Him. Not the feats, the bank accounts, the accomplishments, the jobs landed, or the number of people influenced; only Jesus. His glory will be the currency of Heaven. The telephone poles of life are just the short term goals that we count until we get there, fully involved in what our eternity will revolve around forever. Every pole is another opportunity to bring Jesus glory now, here, until we finally reach the final mileage goal of hearing Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
The finish line may be too far down the road to see, but it is there. We will reach it one way or another. The key is to focus on bringing Jesus glory in the next leg of the journey, whatever that looks like. He doesn’t leave you to do it alone, so like Dr. Sisk showed us with his life, it is a worthy and reachable goal!
Whatever your current obstacle, make it your goal to bring Jesus glory in that thing. A prodigal child? What would be praiseworthy in that disappointment? A financial setback? How can Jesus be glorified? A loved one parted from you this side of eternity? How can you carry on in your race lifting up the name of Jesus? A friend hurt you? How can you respond with the love Jesus showed you? Pursue His glory as far as you can see in this moment and then keep moving the goal until you see Him face to face. That is the best way to run!
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
His Song in the Night 