Day at the Races: And Down the Stretch They Come! — Monday
2 Timothy 4:6-7
…and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (NIV)
This won’t come as a surprise to those who know me, but I am an avid sports fan. I am not yet at “Scott Nickel level,” but I do love keeping up with sports. I must admit that I’ve always found it a bit awkward when great athletes retire and then decide to return to the game they left. I have to assume they feel as though there is still something left to prove. It wasn’t even a full forty days before Tom Brady announced he was coming back to football. His story isn’t finished yet, but thus far, his season hasn’t been all that great. Regardless of the outcome, it would probably be safe to say that these athletes didn’t quite “leave it all on the field” the first time.
Our scripture passage today comes from a letter to Timothy written during Paul’s final imprisonment. Paul correctly anticipated that he would be killed soon and felt the urgent need to encourage his fellow believers. I find it encouraging and inspiring just how well Paul finished his race and fought the good fight, for the language that Paul uses tells me that there was nothing left for him to do. Paul had done everything that God commissioned him to do, and He did it well—so much so that he could confidently say he had finished the race set out before him, leaving behind no regrets.
I do not believe it is God’s desire for us to leave this earth with a feeling that we could have done more to share the Gospel. Like Paul, each of us begins a race when we come to faith in Jesus. Like all races, there is a finish line, and one day, our race will be over, too. When “the time for my departure” comes, I don’t want to feel like I need to come out of “retirement” to complete the work I was called to do here on earth—and at that point, I won’t be able to. At my last breath, when I stand face-to-face with Jesus, I want to say with confidence that I ran my race well, and there is nothing left for me to give. My hope is that you will do so as well.
Monday’s Reflection
Take some time in prayer today to listen to God. Ask God to reveal any area of your life that you are not fighting the good fight or running your race well. Do not allow yourself to feel shame, but rather, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal those areas of your life so that He can help you run your race well.
