Your Finest Hour

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:57


All summer long the world has celebrated the fifty year anniversary of Apollo 11, the first moon landing that took place on July 20, 1965. And yet, the most remembered space fight might just be the failed mission of Apollo 13. Failed in one sense yet it still stands as one of NASA's greatest moments. In the 1995 film that dramatized the story of the near-disaster during the Apollo 13 mission, a member of NASA's Houston team said to Gene Kranz, mission commander, "This could be the worst disaster NASA's ever faced." Kranz replied, "With all due respect, sir, I believe this is going to be our finest hour." And it was. Today could be your finest hour too!

This week has been a difficult one in the lives of many I have had the pleasure of serving. From health issues to troubled marriages, the stress and strain of this life can easily take its toll making one feel like they are living in the midst of a disaster. I want to remind you, friend, of those words located on the passenger side mirror of the typical car that say, "Objects are closer than they appear." You might be going through a very tough time right now where nothing seems to be clear at all but you do well to remember God is with you, He is much closer to you than you might think or realize. This week as you read your bible consider the Cross of Jesus Christ. In every way His death on that Roman Cross appeared to spell disaster, a total disaster in that Jesus died. It seemed as if all hope was lost.

Yet, what appeared to be the worst hour in human history actually was the finest hour for when Jesus hung there dying He spoke these words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”, and then the bible quotes Jesus saying, “It’s finished” as He breathed His last and then said to the Father not in defeat but in victorious triumph, “into Your hands I commit my Spirit”. Yes, it was the worst hour in the history of mankind as we beat, crucified and mocked our Savior as He hung there dying for our sins, and yet for God, as the bible declares, "Where sin abounds grace does all the more" for it was there on the Cross that we witness Jesus in His finest hour as the work of the devil was defeated in the very moment Jesus died. The price for our sin had been paid in full, the wrath of God completely satisfied making way for me and you to be forgiven. Yes, beloved of Jesus, the Cross was Jesus finest hour, and it can be your finest hour too.

Our worst hour might be getting the news we have some incurable disease or that someone we loved and dedicated our lives as left us in our time of need. The worst hours in human hisotry vary from person to person. We all will face the hour sooner or later. The finest hour of every person’s life however, is measured by what we decide about Jesus death on that Roman Cross and the empty tomb due to His resurrection three days later. Was Jesus who He claimed to be, or was He a liar or a deranged lunatic? Each of must decide, “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord?” If we receive Christ as Savior and Lord we can honestly look back over our life and say with full assurance of heart, the moment you asked Jesus in was your finest hour as eternity had hung in the balance up till that moment. When you and I open our hearts to Jesus, He comes inside and His finest hour becomes ours too. Jesus died for you, loved one, He died and was buried and three days later rose again for us so that you and I could live for eternity in heaven with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit too.

No matter what you may be going through today, loved one, if Jesus is in your heart, today might just be your finest hour too! Put your hope and trust in Jesus today, and God promises you that you will not be disappointed! He will bring you safely home!


“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

1 John 5:4

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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