LIFE IS A CHALLENGING RACE

"I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith."  (2 Timothy 4:7)

Final words from Paul to his (spiritual) son Timothy.  Soon, Nero would have Paul's head.  Paul knew it was coming.

He frames his end differently.

Like that of a warrior who has fought well in a good cause against relentless and difficult enemies.

Like that of a runner who has been on a long-distance course, and often thought about dropping off the route, quitting...but didn't.

Like that of a pilgrim who may have wondered many a time whether clinging to hope would ever be worth it...and it was.

An embattled warrior.  A determined runner.  An expectant pilgrim.

LIFE IS CHALLENGING

Recently, a bright and gifted young man on a football team suddenly left the team just after the season began.   Why?  It was so sudden, unexpected.  An over-eager local sports reporter couldn't help but overreach in a front-sports-page article on the "systemic" problems with the football program.   Nice guess, but wrong.

The truth was that the player was struggling with anxiety disorder, and returned to the team within 2 weeks.  This disorder can paralyze even the best and brightest, leaving someone weary and disoriented.

It's not uncommon in our society.  Oddly, though we live in (arguably) the greatest country in the world, we often can become the most stressed and unhappy people on the planet.

Bottom line - life gets rough for just about everyone.

LIFE IS A TOUGH FIGHT, A LONG RACE, A HOPE-DIMMING JOURNEY

In the midst of our anxieties--the challenges we face, the foes we have to fight, the length of the run, the weariness of the journey--the Holy Spirit's call, and provided enablement to us, is to lift our heads.  We can finish well.

You can fight a good fight.
You can finish a long race without quitting.
You can complete a journey in which the path is often not clear by holding fast to your faith in Christ.

And here is the reward - "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 4:8).

"Righteousness" here - captured in the reward of a crown -- is about fighting a good fight, finishing the race, keeping the faith.  It's the right way to live life, and it's living life rightly.  The crown will be a recognition that you fought well, didn't quit, kept believing.

May I encourage you - in whatever may be "eating your lunch" these days - by the Spirit keep fighting well, keep running well keep believing well.  Your Lord has pioneered the path ahead.  He finished, and He can help you each day get one more leg closer to that glorious finish line.