Steve Gaines

By Steve Gaines, Ph. D.

What a moment it is when an Olympic winner stands before a global television audience to be awarded a gold medal for accomplishing an ultimate goal!

The Apostle Paul was familiar with the Olympic games of his day, and he often used athletic imagery to teach about self-discipline and endurance. But his goal outshone any gold medal. Paul’s goal was to finish well for the glory of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s last words recorded in the Bible were written to his favorite young preacher, Timothy. In 2 Timothy 4:7 (New Living Translation) he summarized his life with three phrases.

“I have fought the good fight.” Paul said, “I have done my best. I’ve left the field knowing that I’ve left all of my mental and physical and spiritual energies on the field of Christian battle.”

“I have finished the course.” That is, “I have completed the task that God put me on this earth to do. I’ve fulfilled the calling God gave me after I was saved. I have crossed the finish line.”

“I have kept the faith.” Paul was telling Timothy, “I have remained faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have not watered down the message of the Gospel, nor have I been disqualified. I have stayed faithful to the end.”

Are you running the race for the Lord Jesus? Will you cross life’s finish line with joy? Are you reading and memorizing the Word of God? Are you training for the battle through prayer? To finish well you must discipline your mental, physical, and spiritual appetites. You must continually confess and forsake your sins. Share Christ with others. Be faithful to God’s Church, and worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

If you were faithful at one time, but have stumbled and fallen, it’s time to get up and get back in the race. Declare war on that temptation that brought you down. Ask the Lord to forgive you, and get back in the fight today! A great crowd of witnesses is cheering you on (Hebrews 12:1-3). Like Paul, you can have victory if you set your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith.