FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT
2 Timothy 4:7
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
This passage is quoted quite often and used in sermons and writing all the time... It is very significant in that it is the last letter that we have from the apostle Paul, shortly before he was martyred.
Several years ago a friend brought his dad, John, to my camp to hunt. His dad was not an old man, mid to late 60's... However he had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. John and his son wanted to spend as much quality time together as possible at this point in John's life.
Back in Paul's letter he used the word "fought", the Greek word agonizomai, translated "fought," means literally "to engage in conflict."
John, fought for the Lord (engaged satan and this world) much of his life. After working for many years he felt called to the mission field... After years there he decided to come home to spend his remaining years with his kids and grandkids... And then the news from the doctors... Why?
No one can answer these "why" question. These things happen because we live in a sinful world. We do know that John loves the Lord and Romans 8:28 tells us that, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
So as we come to places in our life like John is facing... We can be assured that God still/has control. He knows the beginning and the end and has a plan. We are asked to continue to "fight a good fight"
In 1st Timothy 6:12 Paul wrote this to young Timothy...
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."
No mater what we face today or tomorrow, continue to fight the good fight that God has called us to. We don't know what tomorrow brings... But we know who brings tomorrow and the fight we fight for the sake of Christ is never, EVER in vain.
John has since gone on to be with the Lord. Having spent some time with him and hearing his testimony, I am sure that when he entered his eternal home he heard the words, "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21)
Fight the good fight
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