Keeping the Faith

“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.”  II Timothy 4:7-8

Paul had just given Timothy several admonitions regarding his ministry, lastly, telling him to be constantly alert in his ministry and his personal life.  Some folks actually think that one’s personal life is separate from one’s spiritual life, at least it appears that way by how they are living their lives.  I suppose we could call them Sunday Christians, but worldly folks the rest of the week.  However, those of us who truly love the Lord and have dedicated our lives to living for and serving Him know that one who follows Christ is a follower, server, and worshiper 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 or 366 days, in the case of leap year, a year for the rest of their lives.  I have known folks who talk the Christian talk, but their walk doesn’t live up to their words.  I don’t know what folks are thinking.  It is obvious to me and most of the believers that I know that if one is going to claim to know Christ, then there should be some solid evidence of that on a daily basis.   The way that I see it, one is either all in or possibly not really in at all.   I am not judging, just making a reasonable observation.  We are known by our fruits (Matthew 7:16), that is, the evidence that we produce as Christians.  There are believers who walk at a guilty distance, but sooner or later they will be confronted with their lack of commitment to Jesus.

Paul cautioned Timothy to keep his eyes wide open in order to see anything that would distract from his mission of preaching the gospel so that he could stop it in its tracks.  He also had to be ready to endure afflictions for they would surely come.  Believers in Christ are a very small minority when compared to unbelievers and, thus, are the targets of all those controlled by Satan.  Timothy’s work was that of an evangelist first, one whose chief task was to preach the gospel to those who are lost in sin in order to explain how they can be forgiven and become part of God’s kingdom and to warn them of the consequences of rejecting Christ, and secondly, as a pastor whose task was not only to preach the gospel, but to lead a body of believers in worship of and service to the Lord.  In order to make full proof of his ministry, that is, to leave nothing undone, Timothy had to fulfill every aspect of his service to the Lord and to the church.  Pastors have a huge responsibility.

Paul was aware that he only had a short time left on the earth, but he was ready to pass on to heaven to be with the Lord.  He was one believer who could say on the day he died that he had no regrets, at least as far as I can see.  He likely did mourn the time before he came to know Christ, but he knew that Jesus had forgiven him and had cast those sins out of His sight and mind never to bring them up against Paul.  Writing in Philippians 3:13-14, Paul said that he had forgotten the past and was entirely focused on the future with Christ.  At this point in his life, Paul felt that he had accomplished all that Jesus had given him to do, and thus, he could depart in peace.  He put it well: he fought a good fight as he led many to Christ, started churches, and was victorious over his persecutors; he finished the work which Jesus had laid out for him, leaving no stone unturned or loose ends; and he had kept the faith in Christ and in Christ’s ability to carry him through his life of ministry.

Therefore, just as God promised, there was a crown of righteousness awaiting Paul on the day when his soul left this earth and entered heaven.  Those who have surrendered to Christ will be made completely righteous on the day they enter the portals of glory just as the righteous Judge promised.  When sinners repent and receive Christ as Lord and Savior, they are given His righteousness in exchange for their sins, but their righteousness won’t be complete until they leave this sinful world and enter a perfect heaven.  While we don’t measure up to the abilities and accomplishments of the apostle Paul, we can be faithful to whatever God calls us to do.  We are to keep our faith, not locked away in some treasure chest, but in our hearts and minds so that we can be ready, like Paul, to fight the good fight, finish whatever God gives us to do, and look forward to that crown of righteousness which is already prepared for us.