Paul's charge to Timothy

As the things of this world continues to feed deceitful lies into our daily lives, it's becoming harder and harder for me to stay grounded in the things I believe in. When I'm overcome with ungratefulness or losing self-control, I feel like the world is winning in my struggle with life. There are those days where I wish I didn't have to go to my 3 hour night class (or any class for that matter), or go to work, or go to church, or go meet up with friends...these wishes and feelings are actually becoming quite frequent; I just don't really feel like doing anything. Complaining has become a new hobby of mine. Crying has been 2010's reoccurring theme. God has been, somewhere in between.

But, there is hope! I have been renewed, by the Blood of the Lamb. I have been reminded by my mentor :)

At the end of 2 Timothy 4, Paul writes,

"I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness,

which the Lord,

the righteous Judge,

will award to me on that day--and not only to me,

but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

As the world is slowly coming to an end, I ask myself, "Will I be able to repeat what Paul writes? Will I be able to say that i have fought the good fight? That I have finished the race? That I have kept the faith?" Paul lived a life that was devoted to spreading the Gospel--remaining faithful to God even as he was heavily persecuted. And yet, as I have the freedom to live in a land full of opportunities, to worship freely, to learn and achieve whatever my heart desires, I have failed. But, Paul reminds me once again (2 Corinthians 4:16-18),

"Therefore we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away,

yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory

that far out weights them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but on what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal."

and again (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

"Therefore,

If anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation:

The old is gone,

the new has come!"

and again (Ephesians 2:8)

"For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith--

and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God--"

Paul reminds me once again, that one day I will be able to repeat the charge he has given to Timothy. That one day, I could say that I have fought the good fight, that I have finished the race, and that I have kept the faith.

One day.