I take inventory of our recent graduates and think on those who had had left these walls. Do there lives show the evidence of spiritual prosperity? Reminded that I must ask this question of myself. I am not exempt. I too can loose or not maintain that devotion to the Lord. I need to prepare for the finish. As I Look at some familiar passages, I am challenged with familiarity. 1Cr 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize So run, that ye may obtain. Paul likens our spiritual walk to a running race. Am I running? Or walking? Or do I even know where the finish is? Some people do just take to an event like a marathon or a triathlon just to finish. And that’s just fine. Some will perform the same in the faith. Just finish. We are challenged to train and run the race in a way that we may win. 1Cr 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1Cr 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 1Cr 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. We have seen so many professional athletes cheat through drugs. Their careers tarnished because of their conduct and impure relationships. Violence and abuse taint their image. The Greek word for castaway means, not standing the test, not approved, that which does not prove itself such as it ought. People become disqualified, Gilligan-Island style, their career and witness banished because of sin. Hbr 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. Paul writes to us with some sailing terms. He asks, “Do you have an anchor and do you know how to use it?” The word slip, pararreō, means to drift. The words more earnest head, means to use an anchor. If we don’t anchor ourselves to the rock of the scriptures we’ll begin to drift. When I drift, it usually doesn’t happen over night. Often, it happens subtly. In my pride I think I can just cruise through my day. I am trying to sail on spiritual momentum. This always results is a lack of prayer and bible study, I begin to drift. Sometimes this births familiarity. This familiarity makes a place that I had once visited become dull. I start to loose interest. I’ve always love listening to good stories. Admittedly, stories always seem better to me, when I have a part in them. When I anchor myself in the rock of the scriptures, the familiar stories and places in my life, once again become exciting, dynamic, and fruitful. When I anchor my life in the Word that gives life, I will not slip.