Finish Well

Pastor Travis Johnson delivers a powerful wake-up call: the Christian life is not a sprint or a one-time prayer — it’s a marathon that demands grit, endurance, and faithfulness to the end.

Using 2 Timothy 4:6–8 (“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”), Pastor Travis shows three kinds of believers we all become at different seasons:

The Quitter (Demas – loved the world more)

The Recover (John Mark – failed, quit, came back stronger)

The Finisher (Timothy – faithful to the end)

“Starting well is easy. Finishing well is better.”

Don’t quit when it gets hard. Don’t coast when it gets comfortable. Run with endurance, eyes fixed on Jesus — because the same God who saved you will carry you across the finish line to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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FINISH WELL

I want to talk to you straight from my heart today about something the Lord has really been pressing on me: finishing well.

Here's what I want you to understand about the Christian life. It's not a sprint. It's not a prayer. It's not a box that you check off. The Christian life is a marathon of faith and faithfulness.

Let me tell you what a lot of Christians need today: more grit and less quit.

This is not—Christianity is not for sissies. Jesus said, "For him who endures to the end, he shall be saved." So right now, turn to your neighbor and say, "Don't quit. Don't quit."

Let's look at Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1. Here's what the Word of the Lord says:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith..."

Imagine running into the arena at the last lap of a 26-mile marathon, and this huge gathering stands up and they're watching you as you come in. That's the picture.

"Since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down."

This isn't just sin—yes, it's sin, but it's other things you carry too. There are things you learned growing up that you need to unlearn. There are behaviors you practice that you need to unpractice. There are ways of thinking—neuro-pathways you've worn deep. You've seen those paths across the grass where everybody walks the same trail? That's how our brains work. But to walk a new path, you've got to push through the tall grass, and you've got to let the old path grow over.

Listen to me, brothers and sisters: You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. You're living differently. You're not who you used to be. God has a great plan for you. So strip these things away, especially the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Run the race—and finish the race. You've got to start the race to finish it, but starting well is good, and finishing well is better.

A lot of people start things. Not everybody finishes things. Pathway Church—don't quit. Come on, say it with me: Don't quit.

Today I want to give you three different kinds of people and how they walk their Christian walk.

There are three kinds:

1. The Quitter

2. The Recover

3. The Finisher

We're going to Paul's last words to the church in 2 Timothy 4. He's getting a little sentimental. (I texted my daughter in college this week, and she said, "Dad, are you getting senty?" I'm still learning Gen Z—pretty sure it means sentimental.)

Paul writes:

"As for me, my life has been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give me on the day of his return."

He's not bragging. He's declaring: I've come too far to turn back now. And listen—he adds that this prize isn't just for him, but for all who eagerly look forward to Jesus' appearing. Anybody here looking forward to seeing Jesus? Amen.

Then his final words: "Timothy, please come as soon as you can." He's calling the family home. He wants his spiritual son there.

But then he shares some disappointment: "Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica... Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry."

Underline three names: Demas, Mark (John Mark), and Timothy. They represent the Quitter, the Recover, and the Finisher.

The Quitter – Demas

The quitter starts but doesn't finish. Demas didn't finish because of an attraction to the world.

Jesus is not an accessory to what you do. He is everything. He's not your political party, your team, your Jesus bobblehead, or a Sunday check-box. If you have to choose between Jesus and anything else, you choose Jesus.

This marathon is hard. You'll get cramps in your faith. You'll feel like God forgot you. Following Jesus doesn't mean everything gets easy—it means you're saved. That's why it says, "He who endures to the end will be saved." Why mention endurance unless it's difficult?

I've pulled out of this parking lot after an incredible move of God and had my faith tested before I left church property. Some of our worst fights happen on the way to church. Kelly and I made a deal—no stressful talks on Sunday mornings. Save it for Monday.

Easter is the Super Bowl for pastors, and sometimes the Monday after Easter I feel the lowest of the year. People disappoint us. We disappoint people. But don't quit.

At the end of the day, when you quit on Jesus, it's because you love something else more. Don't let anyone or any disappointment cheat you out of following Jesus. Don't follow people—follow Jesus. I want to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Don't be the quitter.

The Recover – John Mark

Those who start, quit, and make a comeback. I love these people.

If you fail, get right back with Jesus. Don't stay away because you're embarrassed. Who cares what people think? Get close to Jesus.

We ought to be the family that when someone goes to the altar, we don't judge—we go with them. Every one of us has made that walk before.

John Mark left Paul and Barnabas on a mission trip (Acts 13). The heat got turned up, and he went home. Later, Barnabas wanted to bring him back; Paul said no. Sharp disagreement—they split.

But years later, in prison, Paul writes: "Bring Mark with you, for he will be helpful to me in the ministry."

John Mark recovered. He learned from his mistake. He came home.

There's always a seat for you at the table of the Lord if you just come home. We'll preach the truth strong, but we'll love you strong too. When prodigals come home, we celebrate.

Failure doesn't disqualify you when you return. Jesus qualifies you when you return.

Maintain a lifestyle of repentance. Be quick to say sorry—to God, your spouse, your friends. If you're going to fail, fail close to Jesus.

The Finisher – Timothy

Those who run the race to the end with faithful endurance.

You can't follow Jesus and stay a snowflake. Soften up, buttercup. Stop being so easily offended. Just because someone disagrees doesn't mean it's hate speech. Make room for differences. The closer we get to the cross, the closer we get to each other.

More grit, less quit. Turn to your neighbor and say, "Toughen up." Then tell them, "It's going to be worth it."

In every difficult season I've endured, God strengthened me. Let's encourage one another. Get in small groups. Break bread. Do life together.

God wants to help you finish. He's going to help you finish. We're not just going to make it—we're going to finish well.

My plan? When I cross that finish line, I'll probably look like a hoopty—lots of Bondo, muffler dragging—but I'm finishing. Somebody will roll me off this stage one day wearing Velcro shoes, but I'm giving God everything till the end.

Paul told Timothy: Fight the good fight. Fan into flame the gift God gave you. God didn't give you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

There are great people who haven't finished well. You're not going to be one of them. You're going to finish.

You're going to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord."

Don't quit. Run your race. Finish well.