2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (ESV)

These are some of Paul’s final words that he has penned to his apprentice Timothy. He knows a verse before that he’s been poured out, and his life is going to soon end, and he’s going to go and be with Jesus.

But aren’t they incredible words? Don’t you hope to be able to say those types of words at the end of your life?

Now, there’s two metaphors that he touches on there: that of the soldier and the athlete, that he’s already talked about back in chapter two. And he kind of says, “Hey, I’ve kept being a good soldier. I’ve kept in the fight. I’ve kept doing what the king wants me to do as I fight for him by lifting up the name of Jesus in the world. I’ve fought the good fight. I’ve kept going. And secondly, I’ve finished the race.”

You know, anyone can start a race, but the key to a race is to finish the race. Anyone can kind of start in the Christian life, but the key is to persevere until the end.

Now, what’s the key? Because look, you might be thinking, “I’m struggling in my Christian faith. I’m struggling to keep going and keep fighting.” And I guess the question is, what’s the key?

Well, the key is not how good a fighter you are. The key is not how good you are at running. The key is that third phrase, “I have kept the faith.” That is, he’s kept trusting Jesus, the faith, the story, the message of Jesus, the king who lived, who died, who rose again.

He’s already said to Timothy in chapter 2, “Hey, remember this gospel. Remember Jesus Christ, the descendant of David, the one who’s been raised from the dead. Remember this gospel.”

You see, the key in the Christian life to continuing is not just the strength that we’ve got to go on. It’s trusting in Jesus, the one who will sustain us, the one who has already died for us and who is alive and right now is interceding and advocating for us at the Father’s right hand.

And so as you struggle on, as you stumble on even, struggling to stay in the fight, struggling to keep on running, keep the faith. Keep trusting in Jesus.

And as you keep trusting in Jesus, as you hold on to him, and I hope as you spend time in God’s word, you’ll be reminded that ultimately he is the one who is able to hold on to you and to present you before the throne of God, faultless and without blemish.

And so friends, whatever’s going on in your life, however many years you’ve got ahead of you (you don’t know), keep trusting Jesus. Keep going in him.

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