The Good Fight of Faith

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

1 Timothy 6:12

Paul strongly urged Timothy not to be swept up by fables, the pursuit of riches, or the works of the flesh, but to fight the good fight of faith in Jesus Christ.  Paul realised a door opened by Jesus did not mean there would be no adversaries or conflict.  All who walk through doors Jesus opens will face opposition, starting with themselves.  Answering the call of Jesus will always require a personal cost of dying to self, taking up our cross daily, and following Jesus.

Being "called" by God does not mean the path of following Jesus will be easy:  there are many people Jesus called out to who refused to follow or heed Him at all!  Timothy had been called to eternal life through faith in Jesus, called as a pastor, and gifted by the Holy Spirit.  But calling was no guarantee Timothy would fulfill his calling, much less labour to lay hold on eternal life.  Eternal salvation through the Gospel is absolutely secure, and at the same time Timothy had a personal responsibility to humble himself, to submit to God and others in love, and to hear the Word of God and do it.

Paul's confidence in Timothy's calling was not on the basis of Timothy's calling, gifts, or public profession of faith, but in Jesus Christ whose blood provided atonement for the sins of the world.  Following Jesus is good but it is not easy with the opposition which withstands children of God in subtle and overt ways.  Having realised the pitfalls of pride, perverse disputes, the love of money and pursuit of wealth, Paul exhorted the young pastor in 1 Timothy 6:11, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness."  Fleeing other things preceded the pursuit of Christ and His sanctified life.

Faith in Christ is a battle mostly waged and won within our hearts and minds, for if Jesus refused to lay down His will in Gethsemane there may not have been a Calvary.  It is glorious to be called by Jesus and to have the sure promise of eternal life provided for disciples of Christ by grace through faith.  At the same time if we have genuine faith we will hear the Word of God and do it.  Our weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty in God to pull down strongholds--spiritual strongholds in our own minds and hearts which impact our conduct and choices (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

Praise God He has called us to lay hold on eternal life, and though our days are filled with conflict may we press on in following Christ without retreating from the front lines.  Let us press the advantage of our Saviour who has claimed the victory over sin, Satan, the flesh, and death.  We overcome not by positive thinking or self-help but because Jesus is our Saviour and we follow Him.  Going our own way leads to ruin, but Paul affirms in 2 Corinthians 2:14:  "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place."  Thank God for His glorious presence and promise.