The Contest

Theologians guess from Paul's letters, he attended at least one of the Olympic Games.  The were a big thing in the Hellenistic world of the day, so if he was in the area, it would seem very likely he attended one or more events.  How popular were these games?  Well, we know from writings of the day, that since the games were done in the nude, that Hebrew youth were have operations to "reverse" their circumcision so as to appear more Greek!  (I do not even want to go there!  Ouch!)

As Paul writes to Timothy, probably one of his last letters, he is seeing his life is about over and that the Christian life is sort of like a race.  You start as a new convert, and there is a finish line - it is just trying to keep a view of it as you rush towards death.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Are You Facing Reality?

Are you expending effort but lacking action?
There is a difference.
So much of what we do has nothing to do with making a difference for God in the lives of others around us.
We want to follow our desires and wants, we seek acknowledgement before others: applause, fame, fortune, etc.
And we have not even finished the race!

Do You Have Unfinished Business?

The "good" fight, not "a" fight - the "real" fight, which you persevere in - to the end in.
The Christian life is not easy, but it is worth it.
The race is a marathon, not a sprint!
You run YOUR race, not someone else's, the one you are GIVEN.
Not the one you would want or would choose.

Are You Confident Of Your Future?

No matter how you feel on the subject of the future, what your wants, what your desires: God's opinion is the only one that counts.

You KNOW where you stand with God.
You KNOW what you need to change in your life to make God's desires the new course in your life!

The Holy Spirit will lead you but you must have FAITH enough to stay the course, to that finish line!

The Finish Line

The finish line is your death.
Death awaits each and everyone of us.
And you have no idea when your race will be run and therefore over.

Live each day, the Lord has given you!
Acknowledge that you do have a finish line, it is real, it is there, what can you do before you reach it?

A bit sombering when you view your life from this angle ...