Finish The Race
“I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight. I have finished the race. I have kept (firmly held) the faith.”–2 Timothy 4:7 AMP
In Northern Michigan, where I’m from, one of the things we look forward to is the annual Dirty Dog Dash, almost as a kick off to summer. The Dirty Dog Dash is a 5K mud run/obstacle course benefiting the Wounded Warriors project. My family had moved earlier in 2014 from a not so sleepy resort village called Walloon Lake into my home town of Petoskey and I joined a group of co-workers in participating. To prepare myself, I began walking. I started in 15 minute increments, usually from my house to my kids’ elementary school, gradually building myself up to the downtown water front and rustic trails along the way. This time on the trails became an important and eagerly anticipated part of my day. The rushing of the Bear River, the shade of the surrounding trees, the stillness of the rustic trails were a sanctuary of tranquility and peace, something my soul was desperately craving.
At the same time I was trying to build myself up physically I was also looking to redirect myself mentally. I was in a dark place; numb, exhausted, depleted. One morning, as I was cleaning up following my walk, I caught myself. There, in the shower, with shampoo streaming into my eyes, a voice spoke as clear as I have ever heard: “Finish the race!” The first thing to go through my head was, “Ooooookay…..now I’m hearing voices!” The second thing, after drying off and getting dressed, was to text my best friend from high school to share what I’d heard. Five minutes hadn’t passed when this reply came: “Look up 2 Timothy 4.” And I did.
The Apostle Paul knew what it was to be in a dark place. Having written 2 Timothy in prison in the days leading to his execution, Paul understood isolation and discouragement. He felt persecution and abandonment first hand. He knew he would soon be executed. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time for my departure has come.” (2 Timothy 4:6) Yet these words penned to young Timothy were words of encouragement, a charge to not only the Christians of his day but for future Christ followers to stay encouraged, to continue in Him in the midst of trials and suffering. “ I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4: 1,2 NKJV)
Problems will come. Tragedy, sorrow, loneliness, rejection, all of these things will come. That is a fact. Just as these things are guaranteed, however, you can say with the same confidence Paul shared with Timothy, “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 to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV)
In what capacity is God asking you to finish the race? What are you facing today that God is telling you to keep the faith?
In Northern Michigan, where I’m from, one of the things we look forward to is the annual Dirty Dog Dash, almost as a kick off to summer. The Dirty Dog Dash is a 5K mud run/obstacle course benefiting the Wounded Warriors project. My family had moved earlier in 2014 from a not so sleepy resort village called Walloon Lake into my home town of Petoskey and I joined a group of co-workers in participating. To prepare myself, I began walking. I started in 15 minute increments, usually from my house to my kids’ elementary school, gradually building myself up to the downtown water front and rustic trails along the way. This time on the trails became an important and eagerly anticipated part of my day. The rushing of the Bear River, the shade of the surrounding trees, the stillness of the rustic trails were a sanctuary of tranquility and peace, something my soul was desperately craving.
At the same time I was trying to build myself up physically I was also looking to redirect myself mentally. I was in a dark place; numb, exhausted, depleted. One morning, as I was cleaning up following my walk, I caught myself. There, in the shower, with shampoo streaming into my eyes, a voice spoke as clear as I have ever heard: “Finish the race!” The first thing to go through my head was, “Ooooookay…..now I’m hearing voices!” The second thing, after drying off and getting dressed, was to text my best friend from high school to share what I’d heard. Five minutes hadn’t passed when this reply came: “Look up 2 Timothy 4.” And I did.
The Apostle Paul knew what it was to be in a dark place. Having written 2 Timothy in prison in the days leading to his execution, Paul understood isolation and discouragement. He felt persecution and abandonment first hand. He knew he would soon be executed. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time for my departure has come.” (2 Timothy 4:6) Yet these words penned to young Timothy were words of encouragement, a charge to not only the Christians of his day but for future Christ followers to stay encouraged, to continue in Him in the midst of trials and suffering. “ I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4: 1,2 NKJV)
Problems will come. Tragedy, sorrow, loneliness, rejection, all of these things will come. That is a fact. Just as these things are guaranteed, however, you can say with the same confidence Paul shared with Timothy, “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 to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV)
In what capacity is God asking you to finish the race? What are you facing today that God is telling you to keep the faith?
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