HOPE FOR THE HOMESTRETCH: HOPE THAT IMPARTS FAITHFULNESS

Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  (Luke 1:39-40)

Mary gives us a model of faithfulness.  As a teenager, the level of her spiritual maturity was amazing.  She established a course she would follow all the days of her life, until at last, headed down the homestretch she would finish well.  There are some who start well and falter.  Others do not begin well, but excel later and finish with a flourish.  But, the ideal is seen in Mary who from beginning to end was faithful.

She was FAITHFUL IN SEEKING, “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah” (v.39).  The angel had departed.  Would Mary rub her eyes, think it all a dream—maybe too much pizza before bed?  Gabriel had told her that Elizabeth’s pregnancy would be a sign of God’s miraculous work:

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  ‎He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  ‎And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”  Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”  And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.  For with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:31-37)

So, she takes off to find out.  Being faithful means we are full of faith!  Headed down the homestretch do we keep trusting?  That steadfast faith will lead us to seek to eagerly follow God’s path for us, even if, as with Mary, it seems incredible.

Mary was also FAITHFUL IN SHARING, “and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.” (v.40)   When Elizabeth saw Mary coming she must have thought, “Do I have some news for her!”  Mary was probably thinking the same thing all the way there.  I wonder if they almost collided on their course to communicate and celebrate what God had promised!  Good news is made for sharing!  Those who are faithful to follow leave a testimony that marks out a trail for others. 

Mary’s model inspires us after 2,000 years.  She beckons us to leave a legacy of life-truths—a heritage of hope—that our family, friends and fellowship of the church needs to know.  One day, each of us will head down the homestretch of life and cross the finish line.  Make it your prayer that if others follow your example, they too will join you someday in wearing a crown of victory!  Jesus exhorts, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11)  Faithfulness keeps a firm grip on the crown.