The Righteous Fight

 

None of us came into this world at our own personal request. We are here by the action of our biological parents. Some of us were planned and prayed for while others may have been the result of a passionate, unplanned and unprotected physical union between two people of the opposite sex. Those two people may have been consenting adults and others may not have been consenting. The point, however, is that we are the product of something outside of ourselves – we did not choose to be here, yet we are.

Having been dropped into this world without our consent, we find ourselves in a great struggle. The struggle is exacerbated by the fact that we have not only been dropped into a sinful place, but also into a sinful condition. (Romans 3.23) No matter how much we desire to do right, we struggle and often fail because of our inbred sinfulness – a sinfulness that condemns us. (Psalm 51.5; Romans 7.21-23) No parent has ever had to teach a child to be rebellious or to do sinful things; however, parents spend many hours training their children how to do the right things.

Be it known, that we are in a battle. II Timothy was written while Paul was in his second imprisonment. He believed that his days were numbered and that what he could have done, he had done. When he makes his statement: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” he is giving his synopsis of his life and how he lived it. The Greek word which translates “fought” (agōnizomai) is the word from which we derive our English word “agony.” It occurs only seven times in the New Testament and speaks of great struggle, whether in a fight, a game, or in any other aspect of life. Of course, this struggle of which Paul spoke began when he met the Savior and surrendered to His will.

So, you have embarked upon a new project – maybe a “she-shed” out back for your wife, or an online college course. There are new concepts to master and unfamiliar paths to traverse. You look at the instructions and pull up videos on Google only to realize that some of it is beyond your ability. After much thought and contemplation – struggling with all the information – you come to a point in which your wife is happy with her place to getaway and you have reached the day of the final exam.

Having arrived at this point, all of the struggles seem to be less daunting when viewing backwards than they did while in the midst of the fight. Paul says that the fight was “good” (kalos – “beautiful”). The things that caused us to struggle have made us stronger and wiser – yes, we can say that those struggles were beautiful because they made us better.

The result of outlasting the struggles and coming to the end of the course brings great joy. Knowing that the shed is complete and the course is finished (teleō – “to bring it to perfection or its destined goal”) – done – over – it brings great responsibilities. There are times that I wish I could remember all the things I have learned. The fact is that as we get older, the things we have forgotten often outweigh the things we remember.

Being “righteous” (díkaios – “properly aligned with what is right”) and qualifying for a “crown of righteousness” is determined by our active engagement with and completion of the career which we call Christianity. Continued blessing depends upon our constant maintaining of those things to which we have learned and applied ourselves. Paul says that he had “kept” (tereo – “to guard, keep”) the faith. He never let any of it slip, but rather guarded it carefully so that his life would ever be rightly aligned with the Truth entrusted to him.

 

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