Depart Well (2 Tim. 4:6-8)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:6-8, NASB)

One day, unless Jesus returns first, we will all face our “time of departure.” And I don’t know about you, but I so want to be able to sincerely say as Paul did:

I have fought the good fight. We are in a battle, folks. A rough, sometimes bloody battle. Every morning, we need to get up and put on our armor in preparation to combat whatever the enemy throws our way (Eph. 6:10-14).

I have finished the course. Paul liked to use athletic metaphors, and although I’m far from being an athlete, I understand wanting to “finish the course.” You don’t start a race if you don’t intend to finish. And what does it take to finish? Training. Perseverance. Focus. And that’s exactly how we should live our lives as Christ-followers. Training by studying God’s word. Persevering through trials. Keeping focus on the Lord and His will.

I have kept the faith. Faith isn’t always easy. Believing in what we can’t touch or see or hear seems contrary to logic. But that’s what being a Christian is all about. We believe in God—Father, Son, and Spirit—because we see His work in creation. We feel His presence as He works in and through us. We hear how He works in the lives of others.

Don’t you want to one day stand before your Lord God and receive your own crown of righteousness? You will if you submit your life to the righteous Judge and seek to do His will. Fight the fight. Finish the course. Keep the faith.

And receive your crown.