Weekly devotional: Finishing the race (14 in Paul’s letters to Timothy series)

I should have posted this final devotional in the 1 and 2 Timothy series long ago! Odd to be doing so at the beginning of January, when it’s time for a fresh start, but life can be like that, can’t it. Sometimes we have to finish off the old things before we can embrace the new. Happy new year!

For 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).

When one of my mentors died, I saw it as a severe mercy. Never filled with glowing good health, and longing for heaven, she felt she had come to the end of her earthly life. She had completed her mission – having passed over her Christian organization to other gifted people – and was ready to die. I imagine she could have echoed with Paul about having been “poured out like a drink offering” as the time for her departure grew near.

When he was writing this letter, Paul must have known that he wouldn’t escape imprisonment and that he would soon be executed. He again employs the language of an athlete as he says he’s finished the race and fought the good fight, and that soon he will receive the crown of righteousness. He seems content even though his earthly life is drawing to a close.

As we conclude our fortnight with Paul, with him writing right before his death, consider how in our culture we often do all that we can to avoid thinking about dying – including employing such terms as someone has “passed away” or “gone to be with Jesus.” We may feel ambivalent about dying, or would be sad to not fulfil our dreams if we were to die soon. But we can ask the Lord for peace and reassurance, and that like Paul, we’ll one day be able to echo that we’ve run the good race and finished our mission. May it be so.

For reflection: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life” (Revelation 22:17).

You can find the rest of this series on 1 and 2 Timothy here.