Creator, Father, King #318

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

THE OIL LAMP—assuming his captors gave him one—burned dimly. The dank prison cell was cramped and cold. There was so much to say. But now, it seemed, after Paul’s incomparably prolific life, his time on earth was suddenly slipping away.

Paul had endured imprisonment for his faith before, but he had always been released. This time, though, he knew would be different. So the aging apostle dipped his quill in the inkwell to finish his letter to his dear friend, Timothy. Here, in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, are some of his final words:

As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

Paul was a titan of the faith. He embodied the word faithful.

What’s It Mean?

What’s the definition of the word faithful? Do you have to evangelize the known world, start churches in pagan cities, joyfully endure multiple beatings and imprisonments, and continue to have an impact on more Christians in the two millennia after your death than during your life?

All of this, of course, can be said of Paul. But thank goodness for us, the answer to that question is NO!

That’s because Christian faithfulness isn’t about mimicking or comparing ourselves to any human, regardless of how great he or she is. It’s about following our Savior. God isn’t going to measure you against anyone else. So why should you do it to yourself?

To be faithful as a Christian, remain steadfast in your commitment to the Lord, using your God-given gifts to serve others and advance his purposes. Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Have the single-minded, heaven-centered focus that Paul alludes to in today’s verse.

God is your Judge, and if you faithfully serve him with the talents he’s graciously given you, you’ll receive the glorious “crown of righteousness” when Christ returns.

Now What?

Are you faithfully using your spiritual gifts at church or elsewhere? If not, find a way to do so.

Did You Know?

According to Christian tradition, Paul was martyred by the Romans in the late AD 60s.