SUNNY THOUGHTS FROM SUNSET by Vance Drum 11-23
Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be blessed.
The Sunset pastor on Sunday concluded our series, “Running the Race: Facing Life’s Challenges with Confidence and Hope,” with a message, “Finishing Well.” The text was from 2 Timothy 4:7: Paul wrote, “The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”
The first game in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece 2500 years ago was the foot race. We all know the same game from childhood when we challenged a friend, brother or sister: “I’ll beat you to the house,” and we took off running.
In the modern Olympic Games only one person comes in first and receives the gold medal. But Paul, using this analogy of the Olympic foot race, said there’s not just one winner, but we can all win in the Christian race. He tells us how in our text.
Jesus said that on the last day it will be said to the faithful: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter in to the joys of your Lord.” In the meantime, we’re in the race. How do we finish the race well so that we’ll hear those welcome words?
The pastor made four points: (1) Fighting the Good Fight; (2) Finishing the Race; (3) Keeping the Faith; (4) Receiving the Reward.
(1) Fighting the Good Fight. V7: “I have fought the good fight.” The Christian life is a lifelong battle for our souls. Christians enjoy life, but we’re also aware that the evil one is real, he’s in the world, and he doesn’t like what we’re doing — running the race with Jesus. He is the enemy of our souls.
The good fight is to fight the enemy. We are not the enemy of each other. We don’t fight each other. The good fight is to suit up with the armor of God and let Jesus fight for us since the battle is the Lord’s. We use the sword of the Spirit (the word of God), the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6).
James 4:7 says: “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” We don’t pay attention to every dog that barks, but we draw near to God in worship, the devil can’t stand it, and he will get somewhere else. That is fighting the good fight.
(2) Finishing the Race. “I have finished the race.” Paul didn’t quit. When he was stoned with rocks and left for dead (Acts 14), the disciples gathered around him, and he got up and carried on. Second Corinthians 11 tells how Paul was beaten with rods, whipped with a bull whip, shipwrecked on his missionary journeys, and faced many other trials. But still he did not quit.
We all face challenges, hardships and trials. What we face Jesus knows about. He is our help, our strength and our inspiration, because he went through this life and suffered much, dying for us.
(3) Keeping the Faith. “I have kept the faith.” Paul had been a violent persecutor of the faith, “the chief of sinners,” but then the Lord Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus Road. After that, he never turned his back on Jesus.
What about you, and me? Jesus came to us at Christmas to walk with us — all the way to heaven. Are you still walking with Him? Keep the faith.
(4) Receiving the Reward. “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.”
Jesus is our Savior, our older brother, our defense attorney, and our Judge. He is on our side! Fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith. He will reward you.
Our song leader Sherry Whatley sang the beautiful “One Pair of Hands” on Sunday. Thanks Sherry!
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” [Psalm 106:1]
May your Thanksgiving be filled with thanks for His goodness — our prayer for you from your friends at Sunset Christian Church.