After exhorting Timothy to
“preach the word” and warning him of people who will “not
endure sound doctrine” “but after their own lusts shall they heap
to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”, Paul the apostle
instructed him to “watch in all things, endure afflictions, do
the work of an evangelist” and
to “make full proof of” his
“ministry”. Paul was “ready to be offered, and the time
of” his “departure” was “at hand”, and in
chapter four and verse seven of this final letter from him, he
declared that “he fought a good fight” among two other
accomplishments where we read:
I have fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
The
verse begins, “I have fought a good fight,...” Paul
began with the Greek word “agōnizomai” which
translated is “I
have fought” which means “to
enter a contest, contend in gymnastic games as with adversaries,
struggle with difficulties and dangers, endeavor with strenuous zeal,
strive to obtain something” “a good”
or “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing,
precious, useful, suitable commendable and admirable” “fight”
or “assembly, contest, struggle as in the gathering for national
games”. Paul likened his struggles and difficulties unto the
contests and games which were played out in the stadium or arena
before men.
The
verse continues, “...I have finished my
course,...” Paul added, “I have finished” or
“brought to a close, ended, passed, executed, completed, fulfilled
and carried out” “my course” which refers to “a race
or career”. Once again, like a racer who competes within a race
course, Paul saw his life as though he was crossing the finish line.
Finally
the verse says, “...I have kept the faith:” Finally
Paul said, “I have kept”
or “tended to, guarded, taken care of, observed and reserved”
“the faith” which
means “the conviction that God exists and is the creator
and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal
salvation through Christ, and that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom
we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God”. Paul
exhibited, tended to, guarded and observed “a character of one who
can be relied upon” to not only follow Jesus Christ, but also to
demonstrate a life that is ruled by Him.
As we think through these
words of Paul, let us think about the three words he used to describe
the accomplishments of his life: “Fought”, “Finished” and
“Kept”. It was not simply that he observed these three ways,
but it was what he “fought”, what he “finished”
and what he “kept” that should be an inspiration to us.
Paul “fought a good fight” because it was necessary to
“compete, struggle and strive”. He “finished” his
“course” like a racer completing a race which showed
endurance and strength no matter what his course looked like; and he
“kept the faith” because there was always a notion or
competing way which attempted to have him lose it. While we ponder
these things, let us allow the Lord Jesus to add these three
determinations to our lives, and as we continue in our “fight”,
“race” and “belief” may our lives reflect the faith which we
have in Almighty God.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy how there is laid up for him a “crown
of righteousness”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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