Three Words

May I recommend three words to keep in your mind today? As important, even urgent, as the words: “I love you!” are, I’m thinking of three others. They are found in one sentence in the scriptures, 2 Timothy 4:7. Write these down as a reminder of how life should be lived: Fought, Finished, Kept. I imagine Paul to be an old man, tired and worn down, when he wrote his younger colleague, Timothy. Paul had lived a hard life and now he was passing on a word of great wisdom to his co-worker for the Gospel of Jesus. In fact, three words.

Fought: Do not give up, Timothy. Mixed in with the good times of joy and satisfaction will come difficult days, even threatening days. Fight, Timothy. In the face of poor odds and little chance, press on with courage and conviction. Stand for what you believe. You will not be alone, my friend. It may seem that way when the valley is dark, but you are and will be in the presence of an abiding strength. Courage, Timothy. Press on! Fight the good fight.

Finish: Timothy, if you have the courage to start it, then have the determination to finish it. Don’t quit. It is lonely when others give up and go home. But the finish line is just ahead, just there beyond the turn in the road. Trust me, Timothy, and finish what you start. Doubt, discouragement and personal danger say: “Quit and go home.” But when Jesus said “Follow me” he didn’t mean halfway.

Keep: Timothy, the only thing that has kept me fighting to the finish, the only thing worthy of my life’s effort, is the good news of God offered us in the person of Jesus. Keep the faith, my son. Do not lose it when something else comes along that looks easier, quicker, more expedient. It’s ironic, isn’t it, Timothy. Keep it but don’t hesitate to give it away. I have found that the more you give, the more you have. I have fought the “good” fight; I have finished the race, and while I have given “good news” to everyone who will hear, I do not cross the goal line empty. In spite of it all, my faith is deeper, richer and more profound than when I started, Timothy. So it will be for you!

And so will it be for you.