Fight On

I talked yesterday about it not being over and how it seems like the enemy of our souls is winning many battles, but in the end, we win the war.  Today I want to encourage every born-again believer to fight on and not faint for our redemption draweth nigh.  

I want to remind you that when you signed on to follow Jesus, to take up your cross and deny yourself, you entered a battle that will last until you are taken home to be with the Lord; unless you decide to desert like some of Paul’s friends did when the fight got to the point where it might cost them their lives or where they would have to suffer pain through heavy persecution.  When you think about those who left Paul, don’t be too hard on them, many of us have never suffered like they did and I hope we never will, so we don’t know what we may have done in their situation.

Remember we are living in the last days but no one except God knows when Jesus will come back for His bride and when the end of days will come, so we must be ready and waiting and acting like a soldier in the army of the Lord!  In case you don’t know this, the last days started the day after Jesus Christ was crucified, died and was resurrected so we are much closer to His return then they were in Paul’s day.

Paul spoke to Timothy about what kind of person he should be in the last days and related it to a soldier.  Paul said this to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-4, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”

Just like Timothy, all believers need to find their strength in the grace of Christ Jesus if they will be able to endure in the coming days, months and years.  All true believers have the gift of power through the Holy Spirit and the name of Jesus to overcome in these last days, but we need to apply it in our lives and stand on all the promises of God by faith.  Although it doesn’t tell us everything Paul taught Timothy, Timothy understood that he must be faithful to the Word and so should every other pastor that stands in the pulpit.  In case you didn’t know it, Timothy was the pastor of a very large church in Ephesus.  Timothy was in charge of the work in Ephesus and Asia Minor.  In 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Paul said this to Timothy, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

While Paul spoke to Timothy and instructed him, he spoke about an athlete and how he had to compete according to the rules.  In the same way a pastor must adhere to the requirements of his calling, making the Word and will of God his standard in all things.  The athlete also had to adhere to rules.

Timothy had a great responsibility to prepare himself, and the saints, for the times they were living in just like pastors do today.  We need to be prepared so that we can stand our ground and fight the good fight of faith in these last days.  Remember those who endure to the end shall be saved. Something to think about!  I hope you have a super day and that God will bless you and yours!