As we conclude our week of focusing on finishing strong, today’s topic is “the ultimate transition.” This is where belief systems determine what we think the ultimate transition will be. Three basic belief systems exist when it comes to the ultimate transition: some believe when this life ends that’s it. Life simply ends. Others believe in cycles of rebirth after this life, and the way we live this life determines what type of life we live in the next life. Others believe in some form of eternal life in heaven or paradise.
While many say it doesn’t matter what we believe or whether we believe anything at all about God and the after life, how we approach this life is determined by those beliefs and particularly how we think about finishing strong, when it comes to the ultimate transition. I have examined the three major belief systems when it comes to the ultimate transition, and my faith perspective is that of eternal life in heaven with God. I can speak and write best from that frame of reference, so for today that’s the frame of reference from which I write.
When one looks forward to the ultimate transition as a transition from being a spiritual being with a physical experience here on earth, finishing strong means living more and more consistently in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. As I have moved from childhood, through adolescence into adulthood and am now on the threshold of my sixties, my perspective about finishing strong has become more and more about living my life consistently according to my belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and particularly in letting the Holy Spirit have control in my life. While many understand what I just said, others cannot. The perspective takes faith, but is based a great deal on life experience as well.
For example, one must believe that Jesus Christ is God in order to hold the perspective I hold, and at the same time my life experience has demonstrated that Jesus Christ is God that He lived a perfect life, rose from the dead, returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us who trust Him as Savior and Lord. The terms Savior and Lord mean one who saves from sin and death, one who is the “owner” of our lives. As I live that reality, finishing strong means I awake each day and ask God for His indwelling presence to lead and guide me. I base my words and actions on the truth I have been reading and living from the Bible over the vast majority of my life. When I fail to be consistent with those beliefs, rather than live in hypocrisy by denying the failure, I admit my shortcomings and repent, which means to change my mind, to turn around and move back toward God.
As you can see, this belief system moves me to a greater and greater integrity in my life as I move toward the finish line. It doesn’t mean I am better than anyone else, or that my leadership will necessarily be more effective than others, although my life ought to reflect the truth and love of Jesus more and more and my leadership ought to be the same kind of servant leadership that marked Jesus. Living this type of life means that when the ultimate transition from this life to the next (or to the end) is one that I face with calm and confidence. While I hope to live for at least several more decades, I am prepared to face the ultimate transition today. The Apostle Paul wrote about this perspective in a single verse in his letter to the Philippians when he said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
While some may laugh at such a perspective, it is that perspective that gives me the ability to lead effectively into my sixties, if God wills, and beyond. My prayer for each of you is that you base your ultimate transition on a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. If you are not going to do that, my recommendation is to live consistently according to your belief system, whatever it may be. After all, we all have a belief system even if it is the denial of any belief system. That consistently will allow us to approach life with a kind of integrity that is not seen in those who merely drift through life. Then again, the drifting life is seldom a life of leadership.
Here’s to leading better by living our life consistently with our worldview and belief system determining how we will finish strong–today!