FIGHT ALL YOUR BATTLES ON YOUR KNEES AND YOU WIN EVERY TIME - STEADFAST & UNMOVEABLE
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished, the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
"The statistics on death are quite impressible - one out of one people die!" -George Bernard
When does your RACE begin? I believe at the moment you come to the foot of the cross and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life? Are you apprehensive to get to the point in your Christian life where you know it is time to "hang up the spikes?" Paul knows in this verse he has just about finished all he can do and he believes he has done it well.
Paul's analogy here is taken from the Greek and Roman games. It is the picture of a runner who competed honorably in the race. In the phrase "I have fought the good fight" the final word comes from a word which means any contest in the games. The Greek word is agon, presumably the source of our word agony.
It pictures an athlete coming off the field, having given his very all. He can honestly say he has given the race his total effort as he prepares to hang up his spikes. It is good to lose having done your best, than without being pressed. Paul looks back on his life - there are no regrets - no sadness - no remorse - no sense of unfulfillment - no feeling of incompleteness - nothing has been left undone.
Paul now sees himself as crossing the finish line. The focus must never really be on winning as much as it is on finishing. We must complete the race having given our all. The Christian life and ministry is not a competition to run better than others. It's a commitment to run all the way to the finish. We, too, can finish the race if we are constantly keeping our eyes focused on Jesus and consistently walking forward as Paul did, and as he also taught Timothy to do the same - finish the race! What to we need to stay in the race? We need the following components - concentration - determination - focus - persistence - discipline and learning to pace ourself.
In the context of this metaphor, when Paul says he has "kept the faith," he is saying that he has competed according to the rules. He competed honorably and honestly. Paul is now at the end of the race, affirming that his vows had been kept. The keeping of vows has come on hard times. Long-range commitment is often replaced by short-range gratification. Faith is trusting an unknown outcome to a knowing God. It is believing that what God has promised He is more than able to bring to pass. Only with faith in Jesus Christ dare we step into the dangerous excitement of life.
Paul had lived to reflect God's character. He had been vigilant in his service to God. He waited and made these comments at the end of his race, until he was about to die. He did not presume or rely on his past service. Instead he persevered, struggled, and served God until the end. (also see 1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
He carefully observed the rule - will you? He guarded the way he lived - do we? Paul was obedient and he passed that message on - do we share the message that way with others as we fight the good fight and finish our race? Have we kept the faith? Faith, too, is trusting in God, resting your whole weight upon Him. And here is the thing about faith - it doesn't operate in the realm of the possible, if it did, it truly would not be faith. You see, if I can accomplish something all on my own, by my own efforts, than I wouldn't need God. Faith truly begins when man's power ends!
Whatever Paul went through as he faithfully ministered - he never lost his faith - he followed the Lord Jesus based on the truth of His Word and in anticipation of the rewards He had stored up for him. If we wish to end as well as the apostle Paul did, we must do as he did, recalling the past with thanksgiving, being wholeheartedly committed to the Lord's calling, and believing in His promises no matter our circumstances, just as Paul did.
There is a prize at the end - the crown of righteousness. Are you looking forward to receiving it? Stay close to God - determine in your heart to obey Him and to stay on course - fighting the good fight and finishing the race and above all keeping the faith. Sad to say, not all of us will finish well. We will lose sight of the big picture and lose our steadfastness. Of course, if you are not a Christian, you have not entered the race yet. The Crown is laid up for the righteous people who have lived righteous lives. The Lord, the righteous Judge is the giver of the prizes.
In the Greek, this verse reads this way, "The good fight I have fought, the course I have finished, the faith I have kept." Paul did what God had called him to do and was looking forward to the end of his race.
"I can't think of a more glorious way to leave this world than with the confidence that you have done all that you were called to do. I can't think of anything more wonderful than to yield up your life in death with a total sense of having finished what God gave you to do and been faithful to it. That's the way to go, that's the way to leave, that's the way to come to the end of your life." -John MacArthur
Life is a struggle - a spiritual struggle in a spiritual contest. We must never let our guard down. Never rest. Paul needed courage, which is, "fear that has said its prayers."
To finish your course - you have to stay on course. Get rid of unnecessary baggage - keep your eye on the goal -
THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
WE MUST STAY FOCUSED!
