I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7
Note: This devotion is from November 3-5
Here, we are presented with three metaphors – a fight, a race and a trust.
Each metaphor describes an aspect of Christian life. It is a fight for there is a foe to quell . . . a race for there is a goal to reach . . . a trust for there is a truth to guard. However, all of them come together and are necessary to each other. For the Christian life demands bravery, perseverance and fidelity to triumph in the fight, race and holding that trust.
We use the war metaphor throughout so many facets of our modern age (i.e. the war on drugs), but at our conversion, we enlisted in the Christian fight, or war. In I Timothy 6:12, he defines this battle as “the good fight of the faith.” This war is the “good fight” for complete mastery over sin and Satan. And yet, while we battle on the side of God, He will not conquer our temptations for us if we do not fight them ourselves.
When Paul says, “I have finished the course,” he speaks with the stadium and the Olympic racecourse in mind. It differs from war, fight or battle in that it is more individualistic. Paul means that he has now completed the special track or stretch of ministry that has been set before him (Acts 20:24). This special course is divinely set and marked for each of us to persevere. As in a physical race, the runners keep their eye toward the prize – and so we must keep our eyes firmly placed on the goal of our heavenly prize.
Today, I pray that you and I be brave, persevere and hold strong to our fidelity
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