The Ups and Downs of Christian Life

Do you ever get tired as a Christian? The constant pursuit of God, the struggle with daily prayer and scripture reading? The pressure of temptation?

Today I was sitting in church and my pastor was preaching out of 2nd Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The two analogies in verse 7 captured my attention as I sat in the back of the church, weary and heavy with the burden of not perfectly living up to all that Jesus had for me. These 2 analogies helped reframe how I view the long journey of growing as a christian. They reminded me the faithful Christian life is not one of perfection, but one of progress.

Not all I want to be

I have a desire within myself to want to be perfectly obedient to all that God has called me to. But if I am honest, I often miss the mark. I start to think that God’s love for me has changed. Perhaps He is simply tolerating me because I am not perfect?

Have you ever faced that? You had good intentions to read more of your Bible this past year, but for whatever reason it was hard to stick with it. Or you wanted to stop committing a specific sin and though you made some good efforts, your heart still desires what you know it should not?

What does the analogy of fights and races have to do with this reality that we are not as perfect as we would hope? Not as strong as we desire?

Fights and races

Paul is sitting in a prison cell as he pens these words, notice in verse 6 he is aware his death is soon. How does he describe the christian journey he has been on? As a fight and a race. Fights and races are never perfectly linear trajectories, only going up, only improving. In a fight, sometimes you get punched in the face. In a race, there comes a point where your mind and your body no longer agree. Your body can go further, but your mind is telling yourself to stop or slow down.

What is Pauls point to young Timothy, a pastor who is only beginning his race? Just because you get punched in the face doesn’t meant you have to stop fighting. Just because you slow down and contemplate quitting the race doesn’t mean you have to give up. The testament of faith is that you keep going.

Christianity is going to be a long journey. It’s not always going to be fun, enjoyable, pretty. Yes, relationship with God is beautiful and my life is marked for the better because of it. But we must not forget the biblical example and our own reality: Christian life will be hard at times.

Races and fights are not easy, nor are they pain free. Do not be surprised when the journey of following Jesus is like taking up your cross and following the savior who suffered and died.

Encouragement for today

In your Christian life, just because you feel as if you’ve lost the battle doesn’t mean you have to lose the war. The journey towards the finish line is one of many ups and downs. Some great days, some mediocre days, and some really terrible ones. The question for all of us is, will we keep returning to Jesus? Will we keep fighting? Will we keep running? As imperfect as it may be?

Have you stumbled? Get back up. The race is not over.

What does Paul look forward to after his race?

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. V8

Continue on, don’t give up, even if today has been bad. Tomorrow is a new day. And in the next life, we have a beautiful reward that is no comparison to the joy of being with our God in perfect peace.

Running,

Josh.