What Really Matters for the Christian at the End of Life

by Pastor Dr. Chuck Jarvis

At the end of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy, in II Timothy 4:7,8 and triumphantly declared, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have l kept the faith." Let me break this down a bit. The words "fought" and "fight" are from the greek word "agonidzo". This word means a struggle, a fight, a combat, or a fierce competition. It's where we get our English word "agony" from.

By using this word, Paul is telling us that some of his ministry had been a real struggle. It had been difficult, it had been fierce, and even agonizing. Yet Paul had never budged an inch from the course he was on. He stayed in the fight and he was faithful to his call. The greek phrase here could be translated, "A good fight! That's what I fought!" The phrase has the sense of victory, of exhilaration, of accomplishing a task that had great purpose, but also included some very difficult times, yet he never quit, he never gave up, and for that he had no regrets.

Paul, in a good way, is proud of the fight, the contest, he has been engaged in. Despite the hard times and regardless of all the others who had dropped out of the fight, he stayed in there and he could triumphantly say, "A good fight, that's what I fought!"

Then Paul tells us in this verse, "I have finished the race". The greek word for race is "dromos". It describes a foot race or a running track or a running course. It is interesting that Paul uses this word to describe his life's call, his life's assignment given to him by Jesus Christ. Paul knew precisely what race or course he was called to run. He didn’t try to run someone else's course, to idolize someone else and copy what they did. He understood his place and his unique calling in the plan of God and he followed that course. And in spite of all the things that tried to slow him down, knock him out of the race, and defeat him, he refused to quit running. No matter what happened, Paul just stayed right on track, true to the course, the running path or track of life that God had given him. The phrase "I have finished the race" could be translated this way, "My race? I ran it with all my might, never stopping until I had reached the goal and finished it!"

And then lastly, Paul writes in this verse, "I have kept the faith". The greek word for kept is the word "terro". It is the same greek word used to depict a watch of soldiers who were positioned to protect or guard something or someone very important. They were to stand guard and keep watch. They were to be faithful and remain committed to their charge of guarding and watching this very important item or person regardless of the kind of assaults or the number of attackers they may encounter.

When Paul said, he had "kept the faith", he was saying that even though he had encountered difficulties and challenges in his life, he had never left his post or surrendered to the assaults and attacks that came against him. Through it all, Paul had kept watch over his purpose, over his mission, over the extremely important responsibilities God had given him, in particular, the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And he was satisfied, again in a good way, that he had done it well.

When we put all this together, we could translate II Timothy 4:7 this way, "A good fight! That's what I fought! My race?, I ran it with all my might, never stopping until I knew I had reached the goal and finished it! The faith?, I protected it, I guarded it, and I watched over it with all my heart and strength. In spite of the assaults and attacks, I stayed true to the assignment God had given me."

This soldier of the Lord is telling Timothy he's ready to depart this earth and to be forever in the presence of his Lord. His ministry and life had been difficult, but he made it. As he faces his own death, he is not fearful. He is ready and excited to move on to heaven.

"Finally" he says in verse 8, "there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing." Finally, Paul says, I have made it. All the tough times, all the hardships, all the bad stuff I had to trudge through in life were worth it, worth it because I was faithful to my Savior Jesus Christ, faithful to complete the assignment, the task he entrusted me with.

Fight the good fight Christians. Finish the race. Keep the faith. It's what will really matter in eternity.