Finally

Reading through the Book of. Philippians this morning, I came to a word that got my attention in a way that caused me to pause and take a closer look.  The word was "finally" (4:8).  Finally is one of those words that suggests coming to the point of things, it is a word that is meant to tie together or put the capstone on whatever has be said previously.  It is a word that should cause us to take stock.

In a book beginning with the premise that "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion' (1:6), a final note is rung signaling how the completion of that work would be accomplished: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy---think about such things" (4:8).

The key is to look for the good and focus on those things are are noble and pure and right.  While the bad cannot be ignored, it must be faced squarely and dealt with, the good is to be our focus.  Identifying the rock in your shoe and getting it out is important, but don't keep on thinking about the rock, focus on the purpose of the journey and the good along the way.

In our personal lives, in our corporate lives, in our community lives, we will have to face and deal with difficult and unsavory things.  But, we cannot allow those things to define who we are or what God has called us to.  There is so much good, so much beauty, so much to be embraced along the way.  And, it is in finding and focusing on the good that gives life meaning, allowing the good work began in each of us to be completed.

This principle of finding the good upon which to focus was presented by Jesus in the Sermon On The Mount when he said, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matt 6:22-23).

At the end of the day, it is finding and embracing the good that matters.  Identify the bad, face it squarely and deal with it, but do not let your focus be there or you will be consumed.  Instead, go on to find the good and focus there, giving life to the good you have found: "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" (Phil 4:9).  Jus' Say'n.