Psalm 26:2–3 NIV “Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.”

When a Man Starts Well… But Doesn’t Finish

David was a man after God’s own heart. He knew the promises of God and ran toward battle when others stood still. He worshiped openly, obeyed diligently, and trusted God radically. And because of this, David was blessed in everything he did.

But the truth we don’t like to face is this: starting strong doesn’t guarantee we’ll finish well.

David’s success led to his stumble. Pride crept in. His prayers faded. His accountability thinned. And instead of leading with integrity, he abused power, committed adultery, and orchestrated murder. The man who once danced before the Lord in praise eventually stood defiant in sin. And the consequences were devastating—for his household, his kingdom, and his legacy.

Why Christian Men Drift from Purpose

It’s not usually one catastrophic fall—it’s a slow fade.

• A little less time in God’s Word

• A little more trust in our own strength

• A little less accountability

• A little more comfort and control

We stop being tested, and so we stop growing. We stop confessing, and so we start pretending. We stop depending on God’s faithfulness and begin relying on our own performance.

And slowly, we become the hypocrites we once distanced ourselves from.

The Call to Finish Faithfully

Psalm 26 is David’s cry before the fall—a man who knew what it meant to walk in innocence, to reject evil, to love truth. But it’s also a mirror for us. Are we still that man? Or have we drifted?

The Christian life is not a sprint. It’s a grueling, lifelong marathon. It demands grit, humility, repentance, and obedience—especially in the later years, when the applause fades and the testing grows harder.

We must:

• Stay under the weight—keep pressing into spiritual disciplines that stretch and strengthen us

• Surround ourselves with godly men—community that sharpens, not softens

• Stay rooted in God’s Word and prayer—reminding us we’re still sinners in need of grace

• Confess sin quickly and thoroughly—because hidden sin is the root of spiritual decay

• Fight for faithfulness, not fame—because legacies are built through consistency, not moments

Your Legacy Depends on Your Finish

Anyone can sprint. Few finish well.

The men your children need. The man your wife deserves. The man your world lacks—is not the one who burned bright for a season but the one who endured to the end.

God doesn’t reward the one who started strong. He crowns the one who finished faithful.

Lord,  give us the strength to run with integrity until the very end. Amen.