“I have fought the good fight!”

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV)

Verses (6-8) of chapter 4 tell us a lot about the Apostle Paul. In Chapters 1- 4 Paul has encouraged, exhorted, and maybe even prodded Timothy to be an example of godly living, to utilize the gifts that God has given him, stand up to those who are intent on doing harm to God’s church, to watch for those “lovers of self” that seek their own pleasures rather than “being lovers of God”.  Paul tells Timothy to “preach the word” and to watch out for those in the congregation who want to have their ears tickled rather than hear sound doctrine. He finally warns Timothy that the time is coming when members of the churches in Ephesus “will turn away their ears from the truth.”

Paul encourages Timothy with his life example, and says that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:” This is the very thing that he encouraged Timothy to do in his first letter (see 1 Tim. 6:12-16) “Fight the good fight of faith…you keep the commandment … until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ…”. It’s clear from Paul’s statement, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”, that his ministry is coming to a close. Most of us are not familiar with the Old Testament “drink offering,” but it was the final offering in the sacrificial system, so Paul saw that his death would be his final sacrifice to the Lord for a life well-lived and filled with blessings.

Paul also uses the term “departure” to describe his impending death. Paul uses this term also in Philippians 1:23: “But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;” [emphasis mine]. This is a nautical term used to describe “Loosening” a ship from its mooring lines so that it can sail away to its destination. I personally love this image, which shows that when it’s time for the Lord to call us home, we will be “loosed” from everything that holds us to this world and will be sailing away to our final destination to be with our Lord forever.

Paul ends this letter with a special request for Timothy to come visit him in prison and to bring his “cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus and the books, especially the parchments.” (6:13). Then Paul’s final words to his “beloved son” in the faith is “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” What better hands in which to leave someone than the Lord’s?

As we grow older, we begin to think more about finishing the race that God has set for us. So, let’s fight the good fight and finish the course, and yes, let’s keep the faith and serve our Savior well.

"Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"