“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

 There is a sense of relief in the closing of Paul’s second letter to his son in the faith, Timothy. Upon his conversion in Acts 9, while known as Saul of Tarsus, Paul committed his life in service to the Lord. This brought about many troubles in his life. The life of a Christian is not always an easy one, and Paul is a fitting example. Before he even began his ministry he knew of the challenges that came with being a Christian. “And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58).  Stephen, a man murdered by the throwing of stones for the cause of the Lord, was witnessed by Saul, a man who “was consenting to his death” (Acts 8:1). Saul knew of the work of the church. He saw the Christians spreading the Gospel of Christ, and so “he made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:3).

 We can only imagine what things were racing through Saul’s mind as the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). The one whom he had been persecuting, who claimed to be God in the flesh, had now miraculously appeared to Saul, confirming the things being taught concerning Him as the Christ.  What fear, what wonder, what regret Saul must have felt. He knew the sort of things he would have to suffer in his remaining life. This Christ that he had been so insolently opposed to, was now his Master.

“Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). Paul did not waste any time. He possessed an urgent desire to preach the Gospel. Paul had been lost in sin, and now that he had been shown the way, he wanted others to have the same opportunity that had been given him. Because of this, it wasn’t too long before Paul was on the opposite end of danger and persecution. “Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him” (Acts 9:23). He was able to escape death with the help of other disciples (Acts 9:25) only to experience another attempt on his life in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29).

Paul experienced many other hardships throughout his life of dedication to preaching the Gospel. He was stoned (Acts 14:19), beaten and thrown into prison (Acts 16:23-24), was in the midst of a tempestuous sea that caused shipwreck (Acts 27:13-44), and had other things that challenged him in his ministry.

Much can be learned from Paul in his steadfast effort to spread the Gospel despite the terrible hindrances he experienced. He wrote to the saints in Rome, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). As was manifest in Paul’s life, there is always hope because of the limitless love of God. No matter the circumstances of hardship Paul suffered, he knew that he could not be separated from Christ.

“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” (2 Timothy 4:8). Paul knew his life was coming to an end but was not afraid. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Because of the hope of heaven Paul had, he saw the gain in the loss of his physical life. He gives assurance to Timothy saying, “not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” This is assurance to us as well.

As Christians, we, like Paul, are to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11) and fight the good fight! We can be sure that there will be trials and tribulations we have to endure, but we can also be sure there is a “crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

There are people lost in sin who do not know Christ. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18)!  We have a purpose! We have a mission! We Christians have hope! “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).