2 Timothy 4:7

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Paul’s words in 2 Timothy above are simply beautiful, as they seem to speak a genuine peace into the hearts and minds of the reader. As indicated in verse 6, Paul likely realizes that his time in this life is coming to a close…”For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure”. Yet despite the realization of his circumstances, he still seems at peace. He has served the Lord in spreading the Gospel…He has followed the path that the Lord designed…He has kept his faith in Jesus as the Savior, the Son, and God as the Creator, the one true Father. He seems content. And perhaps that contentment in Paul’s words is prompted by what he writes in verse 8…”Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day.” Paul knows what is coming next. Paul knows that because of his belief in Jesus as the one and only Savior and because, at his own admission, he has kept that faith despite great adversity, he will soon be rewarded with a place in heaven. It’s interesting how sometimes great adversity and challenge in this life can make the realization of heaven seem so much more potent. Paul suffered much for the Gospel…he was persecuted often and likely had a fresh taste of what agony and misery felt like. And perhaps it was the depth of that discomfort that served to highlight the greatness of what awaited him in heaven. Maybe as he wrote the words above in verse 7 he was realizing that soon there would be no more pain, no more struggle, no more battling, and no more sin. In this life, we are blessed with the opportunity to achieve many great things and accomplish countless goals. But none stands above serving the Lord…none stands above fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith. May we make it a goal each day to stand firm for the Gospel, follow the path the Lords leads us on, and always, always keep our faith in Him! To God be all glory and honor!