A Memoir of Successful Living

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 47). Here is an elderly man, imprisoned, largely forsaken, lonely but yet with the fiery unquenchable spirit of a true conqueror sharing his memoirs in a few verses detailing those things which he felt were important for the development of his young protégé, Timothy. Apparently Timothy was wise enough to listen to a man who "had been there, done that."

In this verse Paul detailed three critical areas associated with each endeavor of life that must be achieved if it is to be successful.

He fought a good fight. Paul definitely knew about warfare. He wrote the primer on the subject. A Godly person who integrates obedience into every realm of life will face the tactics of the enemy. If he can't tempt you do the wrong thing, he will try to get you to do the right thing the wrong way.

There is a right and Godly way to conduct business, to have social relationships, to treat your spouse and family--in general, to live life. The Bible is very detailed on all of these issues. It is the strategy of the enemy to penetrate your defenses and to infiltrate every corner of your life. He is constantly seeking openings wherein he can gain access and work his destruction. He will not necessarily work to immediately destroy each relationship and function--he wants control. What he can't control he will work to divert from its proper course with a view toward eventual destruction. Paul carefully warned us on several occasions about the objectives and tactics of the enemy. He, more than anyone else, enlarges upon the authority and power we have as believers which enable to overcome the enemy. He successfully met the onslaughts of the enemy himself and, therefore, warns, encourages and admonishes us to do the same.

He finished his course. He completed his life's objectives. He was carefully and completely obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ. Like many of us, Paul had a career change when he met Jesus. He changed from a Jewish theologian and persecutor of the saints to a dynamic evangelist for Christ. He had a new life and a new agenda because he had a new Lord. There were times that he worked to make a living by making tents while other times that he devoted himself exclusively to his missionary activities. Regardless of how he made a living, his purpose for living was to share Christ in every conceivable fashion and in every situation. It is evident that he used his tent-making contacts as an opportunity to share Christ.

He used the analogy of a race with him as a runner. He didn't say that he came in first. That wasn't his objective. The crown that he was seeking, he would receive from his master, the Lord Jesus after his homecoming. There was no hint of ministerial competitiveness or isolation. He ran with the pack and worked for the benefit of all. His overriding objective was obedience. His comprehensive obedience made his life a success.

He kept the faith. He admonished young Timothy to "hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 1:13). There were many in that day, as there are today, who are always seeking some new thing in order to stay on top of the heap. Paul warned Timothy: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called, which some, professing, have erred concerning the faith" (1 Timothy 6:20,21).

The faith he spoke of is that composite of truth which details our salvation, our hope, our commission, and the way to Godly and successful living.

Each of us face personally these three critical areas. We should remember that without Christ we can do nothing but through Him we can do all things (John 15:5; Philippians 4:13). We must remain strong on every front in the power of His might. In so doing, like Paul, we will have "won the prize"--hearing our Lord say: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" when we get home.