I am finished

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

2 Timothy 4:7 KJV

What is your WHY?

Even though you and I can depart this world unexpectedly, I often wonder how it feels when you are anticipating the realization of your departure. When you realize your imminent demise is about to occur will you have regrets or will you say vividly that you are ready to leave because you know what is waiting after this life.

I read this anecdote the other day regarding a couple going on vacation but his wife was on a business trip so he went to the destination first. His wife was to follow the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email. Unfortunately, when typing her address, he mistyped a letter and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one look at the computer monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a faint. Because of the commotion, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen:

The Apostle Paul had much confidence in his destination after this life. Why does he possess so much confidence at this point in his life? Remember the younger version of Paul failed to believe that the Messiah was Jesus so he punished followers of Jesus. Later, he even discusses his sinfulness as a believer when he writes to the saints in Roman.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  Romans 7:18-19 KJV

Now in his 60's (as noted by some scholars that his age was between 62-68) Paul finds himself in prison pending execution. Yet, he writes to Timothy this letter which includes this unique thought-provoking statement as he recounts his eventful life and states, "I have fought a good fight." He reflects on life as a fighter like a prized boxer who has fought his last fight realizing that he did his best while competing. Oftentimes, athletes follow a similar routine when crafting their skill set. Mainly, they tend to perform their best because they know the value in competing as well as the rewards from winning. Likewise, Paul's reflection gives him confidence that he had lived his best by keeping what God had entrusted to him on the road to Damascus with confidence the reward that awaits him.

Secondly, Paul comments that he had finished the course. What a profound statement to make when facing your demise. The term finish refers to completion or final. For instance, every race has a finishing line that the racer must cross to finalize that race. Even in the military, we uses the term End State to determine the closure of a military operation.  The End State represents a specified situation that the Soldiers must successfully complete on the final phase in that operation. Basically, Paul states his End State by saying I have finished my course of fulfilling God's goal for my life.

Lastly, Paul reiterates, "I have keep the faith." I expect on numerous occasions Paul thought about giving up. Notice how he recalls his struggle when writing to the Corinthians to combat the false apostles who had infiltrated this church:

I’ve worked much harder, been jailed more often, beaten up more times than I can count, and at death’s door time after time. I’ve been flogged five times with the Jews’ thirty-nine lashes, beaten by Roman rods three times, pummeled with rocks once. I’ve been shipwrecked three times, and immersed in the open sea for a night and a day. In hard traveling year in and year out, I’ve had to ford rivers, fend off robbers, struggle with friends, struggle with foes. I’ve been at risk in the city, at risk in the country, endangered by desert sun and sea storm, and betrayed by those I thought were my brothers. I’ve known drudgery and hard labor, many a long and lonely night without sleep, many a missed meal, blasted by the cold, naked to the weather.

(I Corinthian 11: 23-27)

Keeping the faith is paramount in ones' walk. Individuals must believe in something despite the oppositions, they must determine to hold true to their faith even when facing real consequences. For example, Deandre Arnold, a black student in Texas, was suspended because his high school said the way he wore his dreadlocks violated their dress code. Because he stood in what he believes, he will have the opportunity of going to the Academy Awards because "Hair Love" an animated short film is an Oscar nominate, and the producers invited him to walk down the red carpet with them.

Everyone tends to stand for something. Everyone must have a WHY when they opt to stand for something. Mainly, the WHY gives us the ability to stand for something. So the Apostle Paul announces that he has kept the faith since his initial encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. His willingness to stand for the faith enables him to state his WHY in the next verse:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:8 KJV

Paul realizes his WHY requires an existence after this life of which he sees a crown of righteousness waiting for him. Yet, this crown of righteousness is an award that occurs when Paul executes these three actions:

1) fighting the good fight,

2) finishing his course, and

3) keeping the faith.

Likewise, when we finish Kingdom work, our WHY will come in the form of a crown of righteousness. This crown is not for those who depend upon their own sense of righteousness or of their own works. Such an attitude breeds only arrogance and pride. Our crown of righteousness is our why for desiring and preserving Kingdom work that our Savior enables us to perform. So I challenge each of you to persevere and continue toward your Why!