September 23, 2025
Hi Friends,
Time for a quiz, since everyone is back in school mode by now. “What is the “last spike?” You get bonus points if you can tell me where the “last spike” was driven and you get even more bonus points if you can tell me when it was driven. … So, how did you do?
Now, who can tell me about the “first spike?” Where was it driven? When was it driven?
You could search the internet for the answer but I already did, so let me save you some time. The “first spike” was driven at Westfort, Ontario (you might know this place better by its modern name of Thunder Bay) on June 1, 1875. You should also know that the “first spike” was driven numerous times, depending upon which railroad and which project you have in mind.
I bring this up because of a quote I read about the building of the American transcontinental railway. They started at both ends of the country and worked to the middle. Some California people insisted that there should be a great ceremony to mark the beginning of the project. Among the dignitaries and wealthy people invited was Collis Huntington, who was perhaps the most important west coast backer of the project. He declined the invitation saying: “If you want to jubilate over driving the first spike, go ahead and do it. I don’t. Those mountains over there look too ugly. We may fail, and if we do, I want to have as few people know it as we can … Anybody can drive the first spike, but there are months of labor and unrest between the first and the last spike.”
Gordon MacDonald, who published that quote in his book, A Resilient Life, goes on to opine, “For some time I have contended that the contemporary concept of Christian conversion is far too small. It emphasizes the driving of the first spike — a choice to entrust life to Jesus — but tends to ignore the last one — what Jesus calls us to be and to do.”
Does it seem odd to you that we celebrate “conversions” but seldom “completions” or great progress? Don’t get me wrong. Scripture is clear about the rejoicing in heaven over the one who repents (cf. Lk. 15:7,10). The “first spike” matters to God but the “last spike” is the goal. Paul said this a number of ways: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Php. 3:12) He referred to “foolish” Galatian Christians who had wandered from their calling in Christ, calling them “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, …” (Gal. 4:19)
The life of a disciple is about what we are becoming. The process is not complete yet. It is long and it is arduous. It requires character, commitment and resilience to carry on. We recently celebrated the “last spike” of such a saint at a funeral last Saturday. But, for those of us still en route, there are mountains to climb, obstacles to overcome, jobs to be done. So, let’s persevere! We won’t be there for the earthly celebration of the end of our journey but we will be ushered into eternal glory and hear Jesus himself say, “Well done, you good and faithful servant! Enter into my joy!”
Blessings!
Doug