“Fight-Faith”

“We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.

1 Timothy 6:12 (ERV)

Meditation:

Paul writes this letter to Timothy, urging his young disciple to live a devout life, pursuing "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness" (1 Timothy 6:11). This is a lifelong pursuit, not just a short-term goal that will lead to everlasting life. What is the path that society leads us towards? The path of money, sex, corruption, death, instant gratification, always wanting more material things. These are the false teachers that Paul warns Timothy about in verse 11, telling him to "flee these things." A "man of God" will flee these things. He will flee worldliness and seek the eternal.

Imagine life as a race: our time on earth is short, but maintaining a faith in God, rejecting worldly and sinful things, and pursuing a devout and Godly life takes perseverance. Worldly life ends, but a Christian (Spiritual) life goes on forever. The short race that we have on earth must be approached patiently so that we get to the finish line that Jesus sacrificed himself for. This is what Paul realizes and tells Timothy. "Fight the good fight of faith." Paul is not condoning violence against others by saying this. He is talking about an inward battle that every Christian must wage. All Christians will sin, we will stumble, and we will sometimes feel that we are losing to temptation and evil. We must fight the good fight, because if we lose, we also lose the chance at salvation. To reject this fight is to reject the ultimate gift given to us in the form of Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. The struggle is inside all of us. It is a struggle against deceit and worldly temptations, a struggle with truth. Fortify your hearts and minds and you can win any war against sin and false teachings and deceits. With time the battles will become clearer: "No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:4). It will get easier with time, and it would be disgraceful and wrong to hold onto hope for so long and grow weary or give up. Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are my rock, my refuge, and my strength. Thank you for fortifying my heart in the battles of faith and truth that lay ahead. I am your loyal servant and soldier, willing to give my life in your servitude. Humbly yours, I pray that you use my energy wisely in my fight of faith. In Jesus’ name, may your will be done. Amen!