If anyone doubted the fact that the Christian life is one of spiritual warfare, they need look no further than in the closing words of Paul's second letter to Timothy in which we read, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7, KJV). In his first letter to his son in the Lord, Paul admonishes him to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). This was a constant theme in a number of his letters as to the brethren at Ephesus he encourages them to "put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-13), and to the Corinthians he speaks of fighting "not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:26, 27).
It is obvious that this apostle sees the Christian life as a noble conflict with sin, the word, the flesh, and the devil; a conflict that not only has to be fought, but for the Christian it is one that we have to win. Knowing that his death was imminent (see 2 Timothy 4:6), Paul, in looking back over his life, was content with how he had fought the fight of faith. In his commentary on the text, noted Bible Scholar Matthew Henry observes, "[Paul] did not fear death, because he had the testimony of his conscience that by the grace of God he had in some measure answered the ends of living. As a Christian, as a minister, he had fought a good fight. He had done the service, gone through the difficulties of his warfare, and had been instrumental in carrying on the glorious victories of the exalted Redeemer over the powers of darkness."
Every athlete knows it is important to finish an event strong. There is a certain pride that is present when representing one's club or country that propels an athlete to overcome adversity for a chance to stand on the top of the podium. For the Christian it should be no different. As representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and the kingdom of heaven, we have a responsibility to not only fight the good fight of faith, but to finish strong. Failure is not an option.
If we could know when it is our time to leave this world, and were we to look back on how we fought the good fight, what would we conclude? What would our loved ones write on our tombstones? Now that you have time to ponder, how are you doing in your fight?
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