Keep the faith

The day that we decided to make Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior we begin running the race. I am sure you have heard that before, it's all over the word of God. 2 Timothy is the last book of the bible that Paul wrote and in chapter 4, he begins to write the last words he ever wrote. 

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the good faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will reward to me on that day-and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

Paul knows and understands that his time is coming to an end and he is fully confident that he fought the good fight. He knows that he has finished the race that he has talked about his whole life and that he has kept his faith through it all. Paul knows that there is a crown of righteousness that the Lord will reward him and all of those who have longed for his appearing. 

Paul was fully confident that he has fulfilled his call. In this final time of his life, he is facing death with a certain calamity knowing that he was going to be rewarded by Christ. Are you prepared for death right now? Do you share Paul's confident expectation of meeting Christ? I hope you do! What is encouraging is that the heavenly reward isn't just for people like Paul, it's for all who have eagerly looked forward to Jesus' second coming. The words that Paul gave are very encouraging, and Paul wants to encourage all of us to keep fighting the good fight and running the race no matter how difficult it may seem. When we are with Jesus Christ, we will discover that it was all worth it. 

Although Paul would not receive in earthly reward, he would be rewarded in heaven. Whatever we may face-discouragement, persecution, death-we know we will receive rewards with Christ in heaven. Way too often we focus on earthly rewards, I don't know why that is. When we have an earthly reward focus we get distracted and forget about running the race to receive the heavenly reward.

I encourage you to keep faith and to keep on running the race. Listen, this race doesn't end. You don't get to take a break when you get tired. You can't get tired and not decide to run anymore. You can't decide to take a couple of days off. The race begins when you give your life to Christ and it ends when you are in heaven someday. Keep on fighting the good fight, it will all be worth it.