|
I live in Olympic City, USA. Colorado Springs is home to the Olympic training center where our country's elite athletes come to train. I am in awe of their fitness, and I am not sure I am getting in better shape as a new resident. If you can run, box, or shoot hoops at our 7,000 feet altitude, your training will prepare you to compete anywhere in the world, perhaps to win a gold, silver, or bronze medal. In ancient Greece, Olympic champions were not awarded medals; rather, a crown formed from an olive branch was placed upon their heads to honor their victory. Whether it's made of a fine metal or foliage, the prize is always the aim!
As we close out our study of 1 Timothy, Paul, a spiritual father, shares some of his final admonitions. Last words need to count. I can remember many of my last words to my kids in driveways and airport departure lanes. I tell them the most important things, such as remembering what is true, including how much I love them. In these moments, words must be straight to the point, but they can also be powerful. The hope is that they prayerfully bring clarity and focus. So as a spiritual coach, Paul encourages Timothy to stay focused and fight on before he steps into the ring or the gun fires on the track! The word fight suggests a never-ending struggle until Jesus returns. Keep on keeping on and stay engaged in the fight. These are sober words. I am sure Timothy grew weary and may have been tempted to quit just like us.
Our enemies are the deadly triumvirate: the world, the flesh, and the devil. As believers, we are given armor to daily step into battle by suiting up in prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18). Here is the key: we do not fight so much FOR victory but rather FROM victory. Jesus Christ accomplished the victory on the cross. His death, burial, and resurrection secure the victory over our adversary, Satan himself. The battle occurs in the now and not yet battleground between fighting the good fight and taking hold of eternal life when we finally get Home. The letters of 1 and 2 Timothy end with these final words from our spiritual father Paul to stay faithful to the finish! "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). As we reach the final lap of our study in 1 Timothy, we have the privilege as a covenant-family to remind each other that today is too soon to quit. And remember that today and tomorrow, His Spirit will empower us to press on towards the prize, which of course is Jesus Himself.
May He find us faithful to the finish,
| 
