“7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)
Paul is writing to Timothy here and the title of this part of his letter is “Preach the Word” as noted in my ESV bible. There is a lot more to the passage that my focus here this morning, but I was reminded of just how important it is to continue fighting until I have reached the end of it all.
As I read this passage and came to this verse, I was reminded of a couple of movies and characters that never gave up. “Captain America” and the character Steve Rogers as well as “Hacksaw Ridge” and Desmond Doss. Steve Rogers, before he became Captain America fought in an ally until someone came to rescue him and he stated, “I can do this all day” even as he was being beaten to a pulp. Desmond Doss, continued to save soldiers all through the night, rescuing them from certain death and lowering them one at a time, on his own from a high ridge. Both of these fought the good fight and finished the race in front of them, not to quit until the job was finished and they were rescued.
Not once did either of them stop. Not once did either complain. Not once did either of them give up in the middle because it was “too hard” or they were “tired”. They fought from the start and gave everything they had.
Paul did gave that same energy and commitment as he fought for Christ and the spreading of the gospel. He did not stop, complain, or give up. He continued, even from prison as he knew his fate.
Jesus did not stop, complain, or give up. He knew the road was hard and what was at the end of it, yet He continued and fought for the lives of sinners even to His death. Jesus knew from the day He was born, and yet He kept going.
Now that Jesus and Paul and all others that have fought for me and my salvation have finished the race they were given to run, they can rest. Jesus is resting now in heaven and Paul is as well. Resting and waiting for the return to this world and pick up the fight in the last days. A new race coming and being ready to give it everything is what I know will be.
I have a race top complete for Christ. I know that this blog is part of it. There are many days that I wake and think, maybe I can skip, yet that would not be fighting the good fight. I have to be willing to “do this all day”. I have to be willing to exhaust myself in the completion of the task given me by God. I have to finish the race. I will have the chance to rest when I have finished my work for Christ.
What races are you running where you feel like just giving up? Are you just ready to throw in the towel and just stop? What if you were to continue the fighting the good fight with the understanding that you will have the chance to rest when it is finished?
Trevor's Thoughts 