Fought Finished Kept!

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (Amplified Bible)

⁶For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit's] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

⁷I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

⁸[As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day--and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

Later on the Elder Apostle Paul said that his "departure was at hand". When I first read that it struck me like Paul was a man ready to board an airplane to a tropical island for a long vacation. No dread or fear or remorse! A long fruitful life of ministry and toil was soon to be over. It was not smooth sailing for Paul. His relationship began by being knocked off his feet. He was struck blind for three days. He started off his relationship with Jesus Christ with three days of fasting. Very fast start! Many of us quietly prayed in a prayer meeting, revival service or summer youth camp to receive Jesus Christ as our personal savior.

Fought! Clear indication that the Christian Life is not intended to be a proverbial "walk in the park"! He faced unfair trials, kings, angry mobs, and traitors who stabbed him in the back. He had to deal with wimpy ministers who abandoned him and turned back when he needed them the most. He fought with his own pride and personal will. (Rom 6-7) He fought demons, literally. He fought the elements in storms, ship wrecks, poison snake bites. He fought battles with finances having to work with his own hands to support his missionary journeys. He fought church leadership stuck in their old traditions and pride. Judging himself he concluded that he had "fought a good fight". He was knocked down but was never forsaken by the One who called him.

One of the most significant utterances of the New Testament from Jesus Christ came from the Cross of Calvary. Jesus declared, "It is finished". He followed the will of His Father. He walked, taught, healed and finally suffered as an obedient son. Paul had been given an assignment from God. He was to take the Name of Jesus Christ to the nations. This old apostle was able to make the same declaration as his Savior. "I have finished my course". Earlier he wrote and encouraged others to run the race that God had set before them. He knew who he was in Christ and where he was going. Sometimes he ran. At times he walked and other times he rested. But always he kept the task given by God before him.

Kept! He could declare that he kept the faith. There were numerous times he was attacked verbally and physically for his faith in God. It must have been tempting at times to just give up and to give in to those who attacked him. Why not just compromise a little? After all the Bible says to live at peace with all men! No, he preferred prison rather than denying God and the faith that he embraced with all his strength. Yes, we need to share our faith with all we meet. But, we must keep and hold on to the faith we have in God or we will have nothing to share with a dying world in need of the Truth and a Savior.

I am writing today as it appears that Sharon's father, Carl Settles may be nearing the end of 84 years of life. There is not space here today to tell you all about his life. A very quiet and unassuming man. You could easily miss him in a crowd of people. He lost three brothers in WW II and his father before that. He was never rich or famous as the world considers. I believe that we can say of him that he fought, finished and kept the assignment given him by his Heavenly Father. He loved his wife and two children. Served as a pastor in small country churches, sang on the radio with his wife years ago. He always was ready when asked to sing, My God is Real.

How about you and me? Where are we on our course? Are we still fighting the good fight of faith? After serving God for 55 years I am finding it a struggle to maintain my faith and joy as I know to. There is much that I feel still needs to be done. In fact, there is a lot I still am not sure about in respect to my calling and purpose on earth. I am feeling so incomplete and unsure about so much after all these years. Is this a healthy place to be at in my Christian Life? Some seem so sure on the outside, but when around them for a while a lot of that seems to be a shell. I want to be real in Christ without hypocrisy. Good, bad, or ugly - I do know that God loves me and He also loves all the others that are that way too. He will tell us when it is enough and when we can finally enter our final rest. But until then my heart shall go on singing!!

Have we kept the faith? That may be the final question that can only be answered by the Father who judges our works. At this time I am more concerned about knowing Jesus Christ than being able to quote a statement of faith by a denomination. Once I really know Jesus Christ and seek to be like Him through His Grace then my life should demonstrate His Doctrine and character. I think it is better to live it on a daily basis than to just repeat tenets of faith from a book of man.

Please keep Sharon and her family in your prayers.

Remember! Fight, Finish, & Keep!

May God bless you as you walk with Him

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"