“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).
How could the apostle Paul write the verses above so confidently?
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Really? How could Paul be sure of that? Certainly, he could look back on the track record of his ministry—his many years of faithful service in spreading the gospel message far and wide. He fought the good fight, no doubt he suffered mightily for the sake of Jesus’ name as God promised he would.
But Paul could also look back on the track record of his life and remember just as many moments—if not more—where he failed to live up to his calling as a child of God. Paul was sinful. He even called himself the worst of sinners in one of his letters!
No, Paul’s confidence didn’t come from himself. His confidence wasn’t in himself. It wasn’t in how hard he fought the good fight or how well he ran the race. It wasn’t even in how well he kept the faith. The crown of righteousness waiting for Paul wasn’t won by anything he had done.
It was won entirely for him by his Savior Jesus. That was how Paul could write those verses so confidently. Paul’s eyes were fixed on Jesus—not on himself and what he had done or had failed to do.
Our eyes need to be on Jesus too.
The devil, the world around us, and our sinful nature will do everything they can to pull our eyes away from him and focus on ourselves—either on our shortcomings and failures or on our accomplishments and good deeds. Both paths lead to doubt and uncertainty about our salvation and where we stand with God.
Dear Christian, we know!
Like Paul, we know what Jesus has done for us. He fought the good fight—crushing our foes of sin, death, and the devil. He finished the race in our place. He kept the faith perfectly for us. The crown of righteousness waiting for us and all believers when Jesus returns or calls us home is his crown of righteousness, won by him and freely given to us in love.
So wherever you are in life, know that your confidence as a Christian, as a redeemed child of God, is all in Jesus and what he has done for you.
Before you breathe your last, closing your eyes for the final time on this earth, you can confidently say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Not because of anything you’ve done. Rather, because of everything Jesus has done for you.
Fix your eyes on him!
Whether you’ve just become a Christian or have known the Lord for years, odds are you’ve wondered, “How do I know that I’m actually saved?” I Know That I Know: The Certainty of Christian Faith tackles this and other common questions about faith with God’s Word. As you read, you will be reminded of the certainty of faith that is yours entirely because of your Savior Jesus and what he has done for you.
Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.