Fight the Good Fight!

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:11-16)

Has someone ever talked to you so fervently that they had tears in their eyes? They didn’t just share their message with you, they showed it. You could see in their eyes a burning concern for you. When that happens to you, you don’t forget it. You don’t forget them.

It’s hard to imagine Paul writing these words to Timothy without tears in his eyes. His love and concern for his child in the faith gushes out like a waterfall. He begged Timothy to flee from the false godliness of false teachers and urgently pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” As so many others fell away, “Fight the good fight of the faith!”

Why the tears? Why the urgency? Because Paul knew what was at stake: Eternal life! That’s what’s always at stake: Heaven or hell. Those are the only two options, and there is only one way to heaven: Faith in Christ Jesus. So Paul reminded Timothy that God had called him to faith through the gospel. That God is the one who gives life to everything. That God is the King of kings and Lord of lords. “Timothy, fight the good fight of the faith! Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation! Take hold of eternal life!”

Do you know who is as dearly loved as Timothy? You! Do you know whose soul is as precious as Timothy’s? Yours! Dear brother or sister in Christ, God has called you to salvation. Take hold of Jesus’ gift of eternal life. Fight the good fight of the faith!

Dear Jesus, your message to us is urgent. It’s a matter of heaven and hell. Lead us to flee from all ungodliness and give us your power to fight the good fight of the faith. Amen.

Pastor Nathan