"Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Race, and Keeping the Faith"

“Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Race, and Keeping the Faith”

 

 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.--------2Timothy 4: 7-8

 

 

The Apostle Paul was in a Roman prison awaiting to be put to death, when he wrote these words.  Paul was reflecting back over his ministry and was content with his service to the Lord.

I wonder if many of us, if given the time, before we leave this world, could look back on our service to the Lord, and say with the same confidence as Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  Or would we have to hang our head and lament, “Lord, forgive me, for I have NOT fought a good fight, I have NOT finished the race, nor have I kept the faith.”

 

We, in today’s fast-paced world, seem to put our Spiritual life on hold.  It seems like it ends up at the bottom of our list of priorities.  When in ALL actuality it should be at the very top of the list.  After all, our relationship with God will be what REALLY matters in the end.  And the funny thing is, when we put our Spiritual life at the top of our list of priorities, it seems like everything else falls right into place.  But our FAITH falters and we tend to let it end up at the bottom. 

 

When things go bad, we say our little prayer, and we expect God to be right there to make everything good, we want Him to put us FIRST, but we aren’t willing to put Him FIRST. 

 

How is your service to the Lord, are you fighting the good fight, working at finishing the race and keeping the FAITH?  Will you be able to, with confidence, receive a crown of righteousness on the day of Judgement?  Are you looking FORWARD, with ANTICIPATION to His return?  You can, if you do something to enhance your service to Him, because you LOVE Him and WANT to, fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith, until He returns, or you go to be with Him through death.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you can’t stand before the righteous Judge and say that you have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith.  You will only be able to stand and receive your condemnation for the sinful life you have lived and for your refusal to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, but you can change that NOW, by:  CONFESSING your sins to God and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be READY to receive your crown of righteousness.  Do it NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s waiting, and coming SOON!