Fighting the Good Fight of Faith... for Better or for Worse

To all believers in Christ, put your tall, spiritual hat on. All other inquiring minds... read as my honored guest.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Some would say that if one were in the faith of Christ and in the will of God, he would be somewhat prosperous and successful in life. To be sure, opulentus Vaticanus and Americanus evangélicos ecclesiatus would illustrate that notion rather blatantly, supposing that gain is godliness.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. — 1 Tim 6:6-12, KJB

The Apostle Paul, who was soon to meet his death, wrote these words to a young Timothy, his son in the faith, and with whom he entrusted his ministry:

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. — 2 Tim 4:6-8

The lost world is clueless about these crowns of righteousness promised to all who have fought the good fight of faith, and can have no love for his appearing, but the fear of judgement. Crowns are in relationship to a kingdom, and we read in the Pauline epistles there is but one kingdom in this church age, the Kingdom of God and of Christ. Ne’re the mention of the kingdom of heaven, a reference to Israel’s covenant program.

Christ, who is our head, will soon get handed everything from his Father, and we, as co-heirs with Christ, adopted into the family, will reign in that heavenly Kingdom forever. At present, before that inheritance is realized, we must continue on course.

As soldiers in the good fight of faith there is laid up for us a distinct, incorruptible crown given all who kept the faith, to wear in that kingdom that will mark our service to him, as we endured the oft sufferings of this life, a result of our obedience to his word.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

And if a man strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. — 2 Tim 2:3-5

To the faithless, I suppose you might as well enjoy all the riches and pleasures you can get out of this life. Once it’s over, you have only darkness and physical pain ahead, forever. God’s justice must be satisfied. You trampled on his mercy in the day of salvation.

Doesn’t have to be. The offer still stands to share in Christ’s glory in a kingdom prepared before the world begun. It’s a choice you must make before you take your last breath. His riches are freely given the moment you trust him, but your affections must then be set on things above, not on things of the earth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Yet, having wealth is not the problem; it’s what we do during times of prosperity — assuming we gained our wealth honestly — that proves our strength of good character and work of faith. Some are called while they have plenty:

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy:

That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. — 1 Tim 6:17-19

Against the time to come.

The Bible speaks a lot about time: In the beginning, from henceforth, in that time, times past, there shall come a time, but now, this present time, the end of the world. One day, time will be no more and eternity future, as eternity past was, will begin… world without end. Isaiah, the King of Prophets, wrote what God tells us of his everlasting existence:

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. — Isa 57:15

I’m merely attempting to point out in this piece what the best state of man can be, given his seventy odd years on this earth. Throughout God’s Word to man we are reminded of our proper place in respect to God’s high and exalted authority above us. Failing to do so will set him against you: For God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. — Prov 15:33, 22:4, Jer 10:6-7

Humility ought to be the natural state of man, knowing his place as the creature before a great and mighty Creator; and learning what God would have him do. Today, in the dispensation of the grace of God, the only commandment God gives man, who has humbled himself and believed on Christ who he sent, is to study:

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Tim 2:15

By studying, we gain the knowledge that God wants us to have, who were before heathens and strangers from the covenants of promise made to Israel, in order to understand ALL things. And Paul tells us to consider what HE says, and God would give us understanding in all things!

Why? Because Paul completed the word of truth. The Bible was incomplete until the mystery… kept secret since the world began, was made known to this chief of sinners, who could not be saved under Israel’s law program, though he was an Israelite. Blasphemy was the unforgivable sin and Paul was guilty. But he was given grace, and became a pattern to all those who would hereafter believe. That’s me and, hopefully, you.

I can give chapter and verse to everything I say, if you ask. I’m just shortening this piece for the sake of time.

In the perfect state of man on earth today, in the spirit of humility, which, by the way, produces honour and wisdom, we are to follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

• righteousness — the condition acceptable to and approved by God; integrity, virtue, purity of life; rightness; correctness of thinking, feeling and acting. But now, the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…

• godliness — piety towards God; reverence, respect, holiness. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, receive up into glory.

• faith — conviction of the truth regarding man’s relationship to God and in his inspired revelation to man; being found faithful. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The just shall live by faith.

• love — brotherly love; affection, good will, benevolence; charity. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

• patience — steadfastness, constancy, endurance; not swerved from a deliberate purpose and loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; perseverance. To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

• meekness — gentleness, mildness, humility. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

How’s that tall order working out for those who seek answers to what ails our world? What hope do we have in a world where everyone seeks their own? The ability to exhibit these qualities are only possible in Christ! No one has ever lived a life that is acceptable to God without them. Christ alone lived that perfect life, and God was pleased. So pleased that he gave his beloved Son everything.

To understand what it means to inherit everything in heaven and earth, and to be a part of that exalted kingdom in the ages to come, one can only know by studying the deep things of God; and, put on Christ enabling him to develop the same character in us that pleased the Father. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

That, my friends, is the ticket! That… is my story.

I heard the gospel of Christ without all the legalistic appendages, and simply believed it. I was alone in a room reading a book when I learned of the clear message of the cross, and didn’t have to say a word. Just marveled in my heart how fine it was that he who knew no sin could atone for mine by his death, burial and resurrection. I received the gift of salvation and from then on I could do anything but forget that moment. God had begun a good work in me and, despite growing pains, has continued to perform it to this day.

As I’ve written before, Satan and his legion work relentlessly to prevent Paul’s gospel from being heard. But when one hears and believes it, without fail the enemy will throw every wrench in the works to lead that Christian off course. The only way to avoid grappling with deceptions and detours is to get the word of truth in you, and quickly. Then, continue to study and meditate on it daily. Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little.

And don’t fret the past. God can take care of everything we can’t. After all, we were operating in ignorance and weakness when discovering our spiritual legs. As Paul writes:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. — Phil 3:13

I, myself, am four decades into this life of faith and have to forget a lot of things said and done in my flesh. I did not have the advantage of being around like-minded believers, but grew up mostly on my own when I took interest in the Bible. Eventually, I learned the skill of rightly dividing the word of truth, growing leaps and bounds as I began to see what is the fellowship of the mystery from the Pauline epistles.

By discriminating between Israel’s covenant program under the law and prophets, in keeping with the promises made unto the forefathers concerning the kingdom of heaven, and the dispensation of the grace of God kept secret since the world begun, made known to the Apostle Paul for the body of Christ — progressively from mid-Acts through to the book of Philemon — I finally began to chew on strong spiritual meat, and to understand mysteries revealed to the church that, sadly, most Christians never discover. Perhaps it was because I could not find a physical church to attend where right division was known and taught, I was left under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit.

In the past three years since I’ve “retired” due to a no-fault divorce (ha!), my knowledge has increased substantially by being able to spend uninerrupted hours day and night meditating on text and having my understanding enlightened. My ex, if reading this, would proudly be saying “you’re welcome”. I left him with everything, for which he probably thinks me a fool, considering what we had together. I just took what I needed to get by. Traveling light is the way to go. I pray for your salvation often, BJA. I hope one day you will understand that possessions and the pleasures of this life, without Christ, will end in complete loss.

My hope was always to see my family saved and walking in the truth. But that is an individual choice each must make on their own. The devil is always in the details keeping the world in darkness and ensnaring the simple. The endless greed for the almighty dollar and the hoarding of possessions is a false security.

Like Paul, I suppose I have suffered the loss of all things… that I may win Christ, and enjoy with him the eternal riches in this heavenly kingdom without end.

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. —Rom 8:18

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. — Rom 5:1-5

Above all else, His grace is sufficient.

All Scripture is from the uncopyrighted, inerrant, preserved word of God to man. No other so-called bible can claim that authority. Read and study the 1611 King James Bible. You be the judge. Textual critics be damned.