Running The Race
I’m knee deep in pictures of my daughter as I sift thru boxes of images that capture her life over the past 17 years. As she embarks the next chapter of her life, after graduating from high school, it has propelled me to think about my own life, my own graduation, some 31+ years ago.
What have I accomplished thus far? Have I met any of the goals set before me?
I like what Paul writes in the book of 2 Timothy…
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).
Here Paul uses three phrases that sum up HIS life’s accomplishments. I wonder what we would say about our own life if we were to look back and sum up what has been accomplished so far. Look at how the apostle Paul sums up his life…
First, he says, “I have fought the good fight.” I notice here that he did not say, “I have fought A good fight”, as he is often quoted as saying. If he had said that, it could be said that he was boasting of how well he had done. Rather, he is indicating that he has fought THE good fight, meaning he has fought against the battle that life has presented to him.
Secondly, Paul says, “ I have finished the race.” In Philippians 3 he describes such a race:
“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14).
The race, of course, is the Christian life itself, which is lived merely moment by moment, much like a race can only be accomplished step by step. Every moment in this life, in this race, we are either striving to reach the goal for the prize or we are delaying it. All Christians are called to run such a race as this.
Thirdly, the apostle says, “I have kept the faith.” Such faith does not come from the world, but from God Himself. Keeping the faith in God, is recognizing that God has made deposits that He trusts us with and it is up to us to guard such a treasure from any treasure seekers that may be looking to steal, kill or destroy our heavenly vessel. Paul kept his treasure from being mistreated or distorted by those who would try to twist it and use it for their own purposes; thus he kept the faith.
As I look back over my life and look ahead to what is yet to come, I am reminded just how important it is to finish the race. But not just finish, but finish well. It is my prayer that I will fight the good fight, that I will finish the race and that I will keep the faith.
And as I strive to do my best for the Lord, may it be a testimony and be an impact on my sweet, beautiful daughter to walk in my footsteps and strive to do the same. Her race is just beginning. But it matters not what lap we are in, we must ALL keep running.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me as I run this course, and finish the race. May my goal be to finish well and not only that Lord, may my inspiration to keep running be Your grace and Your eternal hope. Lord, help me also to see that this race is not just for me, but for all those watching me. May they be encouraged to fight, run and keep the faith! AMEN
Sometimes is hard to continue running the race, but with support of other believers and staying in His word, may I finish strong.