For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  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.  – 2 Timothy 4:6-8

When I read a passage such this, I ask myself all the questions I can.  Am I being poured out?  Am I really fighting the good fight?  Am I proud of the race that I’m running?  Have I kept the faith?  Do I long for His appearing?  What does it even look like to be poured out?  What does running the race even look like?  There are so many questions that I really want to get right.  

There have been several checkpoints in my life that I look back to and say, “Everything changed right there!”  There was the day I got saved in June of 1990.  Nothing about my behavior changed, but my conscience went into hyperdrive.  I was completely aware every time I chose to sin.  There was 1994 when I told a friend about the Lord.  He told me that I didn’t get to tell him about the Lord because the Lord made no difference in my life . . . I acted just like him.  I asked Jesus that very night to help me not just believe but live out what it looks like to follow Him.   I began to devour the word of God.  I began to love God.

I am less than a month away from being fifty years old.  I’ve lived 16 years without the Lord in my life, and I’ve lived 34 with Him.  I can honestly say that there is absolutely no way that I’m where I am now without Him.  My life is radically different in every way.  I desire to be poured out for my Lord.  I desire to represent Him everywhere I go.  Knowing that my race is closer and closer to ending with each day that passes, I want to keep fighting.  Fighting to keep my heart pure, fighting to hold onto my faith, and fighting to help others long for His appearing.  

The end is so much closer than we all think.  Either Jesus comes back and ends it all in moment, or we simply draw our last breath.

Are you fighting the good fight of faith?

Lord, I know what I want to do with my life.  I want to live for You.  I know I go on streaks where I’m on fire, and I know I go on streaks where there is barely an ember.  I know I have the enemies of my flesh, this world, and the devil and his demons.  They’ve all had their say and part in trying to drag me to hell.  But I sit here this morning knowing that You are faithful.  You’ve never let me down, You’ve always pulled me out of the pit, and You’ve always fanned my one little ember back into a flame.  You are the Author and Finisher of my salvation.  Help me to simply keep holding onto You for the rest of my days.  I want to be able to say that I’ve run my race well.  I love You, Lord.  Amen.