by Pastor Rich Carlson

As I finish the writings of Paul, I conclude with one of his famous texts found toward the end of his second letter to Timothy. Here we find three tasks completed, one reward secured, and a generalized application with a condition.

Three tasks completed (4:7):

• "I have fought a good fight"
• "I have finished the race"
• "I have kept the faith"

One reward secured (4:8): "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, …the Lord will award to me on that day."

And a generalized application with a condition (4:8): "And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

My youngest son and his wife ran the Lincoln, Neb., Marathon recently. It was a long and grueling run through rain the first half and through wind the last half. But they "finished the race!" They "fought a good fight" through the elements. And they agreed that the encouraging words they offered each other gave them the support to help them keep on when they felt like giving up. And in the end they crossed the finish line and received a medal. It was not easy but they hung in there. They believed in each other. And they finished.

 That is a lot like the race we all have to run. Training helps a lot. Confidence, encouragement, and determination are essential. But the goal is to finish. And to finish is to win. When I come to the end, I want to be able to say, as Paul did, that I fought the good fight and kept my focus on the Savior, even when things were tough.

And the reward is just as sure for Paul as it is for us—not a medal but a crown, not a t-shirt, but a robe of righteousness for all who long for His appearing.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.