I have kept the FAITH!!!!

2 Timothy 4:6–8 (NKJV): 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Apostle Paul coming to the end of his life, closed with these few words to Timothy his son in the faith. Paul knew his time on earth had come to an end, while in jail, Paul reflects over his life since the time the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him while on the road to Damascus, it was on that road that changed the coarse of this man forever. Paul went from a persecutor to being persecuted, for the Gospel message that he was called to preach, a message he believed in, but now it had come full circle, the ultimate test of faith, would he die for it. He tells Timothy “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”. Paul is in jail in Rome, waiting for the trail to begin, he had plenty of time to go over the past 25 plus years preaching the gospel. Paul was stoned to death, beaten several times, spent a night and a day floating in the ocean, shipwrecked and endured peril after peril all for the gospel sake (2 Cor 11:22-29). At the end he encourages Timothy, through it all, I have held onto that which was entrusted to me. And now Timothy I know there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord will give to me and not only me but to all those who have loved His appearing (V 8). What about you friend, if you knew when your life was required could you be as bold as Apostle Paul was to Timothy, 3 take always, Paul fought hard, he finished the race and he kept what he had believed in to the very end. We are in the most Holy Week of all creation, Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the entry into Jerusalem to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mid-week Jesus Christ laid down His life as a ransom for the entire world so you or I would not have to spend eternity apart from God because of our sin. Jesus freely laid down His life for us, but you must freely received His forgiveness, fight the good fight of the Christian life, you must finish the race and lastly keep the faith. Then there will be a crown of righteousness for you and everyone else who receives Jesus Christ and make Him Lord of your life. This coming Sunday April 9th, it will be little more than 2000 years since King Jesus was raised from the dead, His forgiveness is still available to you today, don’t wait another moment, ask Him to come into your life, change it and devote yourself to Him, He will change your life and you’ll be amazed how exciting it’s going to be. This is Pastor Dave, I would love to hear from you: pastordavidwingsr@gmail.com