August 8, 2024
Andrew Thompson
Dunbar Cave, Campus Pastor
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.”
I have been watching the Olympics for the last few days as I sit down to write this. One of my favorite types of events to watch are the races, whether in the water or on the track. One of the reasons I love them is that they are so much easier to understand than the gymnastic competitions my wife loves! Whoever crosses the line first wins. Simple as that! Races are among the first competitions that young children understand, and one of the oldest competitions that humankind has engaged in. That is the reason that I love Paul’s illustration at the end of 2 Timothy as he is nearing the end of his life: its simplicity and timelessness.
I used to run cross country, and whenever I finished poorly I had regrets at the end of my races. I would regret that I slowed down to walk, I would regret that I had to stop to catch my breath, I would regret that I had let my teammates and coaches down by not finishing quicker, I would regret the poor decision I made to eat only potato chips the night before! Running a race poorly always makes your mind drift to regrets…
Other times I would finish a race and feel pretty good about my finish! I never regretted the difficulties I put myself through before and during the race from the vantage point of my good finish. I may have hated the difficult training the days leading up to the race, but I would have it no other way when sitting in the joy of a well run race!
This simple experience of mine fills my mind as I read this passage. If I see my life as a race, I want to be able to look back near the end of my life at a life “run well.” I do not want to be near the end of my life and be filled with regret about the poor decisions I have made, poor decisions that have resulted in a poor finish. What a joy it will be if we are able to near the end of our lives confident in our fight, confident in our finish, and confident in our faith. We will be able to joyously look forward to seeing our Lord face to face! Pray today that you would run well, and live in such a way as to have no regrets later in our lives.
Dunbar Cave, Campus Pastor
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.”
I have been watching the Olympics for the last few days as I sit down to write this. One of my favorite types of events to watch are the races, whether in the water or on the track. One of the reasons I love them is that they are so much easier to understand than the gymnastic competitions my wife loves! Whoever crosses the line first wins. Simple as that! Races are among the first competitions that young children understand, and one of the oldest competitions that humankind has engaged in. That is the reason that I love Paul’s illustration at the end of 2 Timothy as he is nearing the end of his life: its simplicity and timelessness.
I used to run cross country, and whenever I finished poorly I had regrets at the end of my races. I would regret that I slowed down to walk, I would regret that I had to stop to catch my breath, I would regret that I had let my teammates and coaches down by not finishing quicker, I would regret the poor decision I made to eat only potato chips the night before! Running a race poorly always makes your mind drift to regrets…
Other times I would finish a race and feel pretty good about my finish! I never regretted the difficulties I put myself through before and during the race from the vantage point of my good finish. I may have hated the difficult training the days leading up to the race, but I would have it no other way when sitting in the joy of a well run race!
This simple experience of mine fills my mind as I read this passage. If I see my life as a race, I want to be able to look back near the end of my life at a life “run well.” I do not want to be near the end of my life and be filled with regret about the poor decisions I have made, poor decisions that have resulted in a poor finish. What a joy it will be if we are able to near the end of our lives confident in our fight, confident in our finish, and confident in our faith. We will be able to joyously look forward to seeing our Lord face to face! Pray today that you would run well, and live in such a way as to have no regrets later in our lives.