Finishing Well

I was reading 1 Kings tonight and have been thinking about David and Solomon and about how many people start off well but didn't finish well.

1 kings 11:4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. "

David had a really hard start that resulted in years of preparation for the day that he would become king. On the other hand, Solomon had a quick start that unfortunately ended poorly affecting his whole lineage in a negative way(11:11)

David went through so much before he become a King, but Instead of becoming bitter because of everything that he went through he used the opportunities to grow in love for God and people and also to develop a tremendous level of humility. His focus was more on his heart than in his role...

I think the main difference between David and Solomon was that when David sinned he turned his heart towards God, repented, and got back on track. Solomon, however, stayed on the wrong track. When he sinned he sinned more.
Sin became a way of life to Solomon, but to David sin was an awful thing.

Two men; one remembered as a man after God's own heart, the other was a man who [did evil in the sight of Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David]. 1 kings 11:6

Races are truly not won in the first lap but at the finishing line. May we all have passion to not just finish the race but to finish well!

Kelry G.