2nd.Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD the righteous JUDGE, shall give me at that Day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love HIS appearing."
Shortly before his death, the Apostle Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy. Even as he penned this epistle, Paul knew that his time on Earth was coming to a close. Therefore, he exhorted Timothy to be a faithful and effective minister of JESUS CHRIST, just as Paul himself had been an obedient, bold testimony for the SAVIOR. Notice the Apostle's exact words at the end of his life: "I have fought a good fight." Did we read that correctly ? Is the Bible actually advocating the need to fight ? Yes, it is if such conflict entails a battle for truth. Today, many unbelievers and professing Christians encourage spiritual pacifism. They oppose any form of contending for the truth or warring against doctrinal error. But is such an understanding of Christianity correct ? Absolutely not ! Throughout his life, Paul suffered at the hands of unbelievers as well as fellow believers who were disseminating false doctrine and slandering his faithful work. Yet this great man of GOD continued unreservedly to preach and teach the WORD and defend the faith despite so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Greek word translated in our text as "fight" is rendered "conflict" (Philippians 1:30; Colossians 2:1 pictured above) and "contention" (1st.Thessalonians 2:2 pictured above). The Apostle fought a good conflict. He contended. How did he accomplish this ? First, he "finished [the] course" the LORD had set before him. He completed GOD's work GOD's way and refused to cut corners. Second, he "kept the faith." The term keep not only means "to guard" but also "to observe and do." Paul guarded the truth and obeyed it. Are you fighting for GOD's WORD, or are you allowing the enemy to gain the upper hand ?
The Apostle Paul also realized that the Christian life involves a battle between good and evil, truth and error. In fact, he exhorted Timothy in a previous letter to "war a good warfare" (1st.Timothy 1:18). Any believer who fails to realize that he is involved in a battle is automatically handing the enemy a clear advantage. But because Paul knew that he was continually wrestling against spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12 pictured above), he earnestly contended for the faith. At the end of his life, the aged Apostle could tell Timothy that he had "fought a good fight" by finishing the course the LORD had set before him and by keeping the faith (guarding the truth and obeying the WORD of GOD).
So how, exactly, did Paul fight a good fight and keep the faith as required by the LORD ? First, the Apostle was never reluctant to share the WORD. He boldly declared to the believers in Rome, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST" (Romans 1:16), even though he had suffered greatly as a result of the doctrines he preached (2nd.Timothy 1:11-13). Second, Paul never feared the opinions of men (2nd.Timothy 1:7-9). He knew the world would increase in wickedness, yet he still exhorted Timothy to "preach the WORD" despite the fact that most people would vehemently hate his message (2nd.Timothy 3:1-5 cf. 4:1-5). Third, Paul never allowed the world to dictate his standards for ministry. He remained steadfast and unmovable in the LORD's work (1st.Corinthians 15:58 pictured above) and never changed GOD's message or allowed pragmatism to characterize his ministry. Finally, Paul never tolerated error or complacency (2nd.Timothy 2:1-7). Are we emulating the Apostle Paul's warfare strategy in our own life ? If not, we cannot expect to receive the LORD's approval in the end (v.8).MDC
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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