No Regrets: 2 Timothy 4:7-8
“7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8) in the future there is laid up 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 loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
What an amazing testimony to arrive at the end of life with no regrets. Paul looked back with satisfaction. He had fought well. He had run well. He had finished strong. He had kept the faith. He had won the prize. These two verses are the punctuation mark on 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
Paul had no regrets. He was not among those Christians who waste their life and shrink away from Jesus Christ in shame at His coming. (See 1 John 2:28) He was confident that the crown of righteousness awaited him. The righteous judge Himself was going to put the winners wreath on his head.
He looked forward to the coming of Jesus with no regrets. He longed for and loved His appearing. Why? Because Jesus Christ had become everything to him. Jesus was more precious than life itself. (Philippians 1:21)
I confess, these two verses motivate and challenge me. My desire is to love Jesus more and to be more like Him. My goal is not to “do” more but rather to “be” more of the man Jesus wants me to be. We measure success by doing, the Bible measures success by being. Gods love and approval are not earned, they are embraced.
This is a goal every Christian can achieve. Their is no limit to the love and intimacy for Jesus that can be developed. The prisoner in solitary confinement can “do” very little for Jesus, but they can “be” more for Jesus than the pastor of a mega church.
At some point “being” and “doing” should harmonize in our life. Service for God should spontaneously grow out of our love relationship with God. Paul had no regrets on either account. He had fought the good fight. He had finished his course. He had kept the faith.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
