Fight

 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 


I have a (morbid) fascination with 'famous last words'. One of the most powerful I heard was of a man beheaded by Islamic State, who had him kneeling to decapitate him. He stood up and said 'now you will see how an Italian dies'. More spiritually, there's a gravestone of a man in North Yorkshire which is simply captioned 'Redeemed'.

John Newton, who famously wrote the hymn Amazing Grace, was asked what his last words were going to be (an insensitive question if ever there was one). His faculties were understandably declining by his advanced age, so he simply replied that he didn't remember much, except that he was a great sinner, and God is a great Saviour. This verse is, if you like, the Apostle Paul's famous last words.

We know Paul was imprisoned by the Romans and tradition has it that he was martyred by them. It seems he had a premonition at least or even advance notice by God that it was going to happen, because 2 Timothy seems to be self-consciously Paul's swansong.

Will we be able to echo Paul's words when our times end? Will we have fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. Even so, may it be, Lord!

'Lord God, may it be that we fight the good spiritual warfare, that we finish the race, and that we keep the faith. For your honour and praise we pray, amen'.

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