From Steve’s Library 08/2004

Have you ever thought what you’d like to have inscribed on your grave marker? I have, it would be fine with me if my grave marker read, Steven James Farrar, born 1949, died, and then with the words, He didn’t screw up.

Now that may surprise you, but I wouldn’t mind at all if someone chiseled those words in granite underneath my name. Do you know why? Because it would mean I finished strong. Life is like a coin. On one side you have “don’t screw up”. On the other side you have “finish strong.”

None of us are perfect. All of us fall short every day as husbands and dads. At least I can vouch for the fact that I do. What I have in mind is avoiding the major screw ups of life. There is no reason in the world that any of us can’t finish strong. Guys who don’t are guys who willfully remove themselves from the protection of Christ.

Guys who finish strong are, to quote the old hymn, stayed upon Jehovah. And guys who are stayed upon Jehovah consistently do four things. They stay in, they stay close, they stay away and they stay alert.

They stay in what? Well they stay in the Scriptures. They stay close to a friend they can’t con. They stay away or keep their distance from women other than their wives. They stay alert to the schemes of the enemy.

Now if I can remember those four stays, then you can remember them, even if you have attention deficit disorder. One guy put it this way in Psalm 119, “Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee.” Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, gentlemen.

—Steve Farrar

Steve Farrar was the author of many books, including the best-sellers Point Man, Finishing Strong, and Battle Ready: Be Strong and of Good Courage in These Troubled Times.