Introduction
The Bible is an amazing book and its texts can operate in many different ways on human hearts when the Holy Spirit is orchestrating the process. Some parts contain records of human lives, other parts detail political developments. It entails the everyday life of families, sometimes letters to churches, other times letters to persons. Sometimes it is very doctrinal and quite ‘advanced’, and other times very personal and practical. The stories are about people, their relationship with God and their journey in the Kingdom (or lack of those aspects).
But it is much more than stories. In biblical narratives people are far from being angelic beings; they are not demigods. And God is not semi-human as in religious myths. Here we meet reality.
In this passage of a letter from Apostle Paul to his mentee and spiritual son, Timothy, he is very human:
“I fought the good ght, I nished the race, I kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7
Paul had reached the end of his life and made a personal statement. Very short and substantial. These words are placed at the end of a letter full of many deep thoughts and guidelines, but we must pay attention to them even though they are few and simple.
Timothy surely did pay attention.
Paul’s letters carry a lot of revelation and insight, but occasionally
he freely wrote about himself. He was not teaching, disserting or proclaiming...he was talking. Why is it important? Why did such simple words and considerations nd their way into these weighty documents? The reason is simple: Everything which is heavenly must nd an earthly expression. It does not need to be through spectacular events challenging natural laws like earthquakes, storms, thunder and lightning. It surely can happen that way, but the highest expression
of Heaven must be in Man and through Man, as Man is God’s highest creation; de nitely higher than manifestations in the nature. What God intends to create, shape and develop in Man goes far beyond and is more breathtaking than thunder and earthquakes.
Earthly systems (political, social and educational) are created, administrated and developed by Man. Through Man, Heaven can come to Earth and begin to regulate and reform the systems which govern communities and nations. Through Man, Hell can in ltrate Earth and spread darkness and destruction.
For this reason, the enemy of God and His plan is also the enemy of Man, because Man is intended to become God’s partner. The enemy was looking for Jesus, not primarily as the Son of God, but as the Son of Man...and he did so immediately after His incarnation, His earthly birth.
Therefore, the writings of Paul about himself are essential, as we are allowed to look into his life and observe how he represented the Kingdom of Heaven in a way that in uences the kingdoms of the earth, and how he established a legacy that perpetuated to the next generations.
So Paul wrote:
I have fought the good ght. I have nished the race.
I have kept the faith.
Surprisingly, his own person is at the core of these words. Paul is speaking about himself. Why not about Jesus? Why not about God’s grace? Both are surely there, but only implicitly. The point is that the value of being God’s partner on Earth must be understood, your own value at your workplace, in your neighborhood, at the university, the hospital, in your music band, rugby team or political party, or even in the supermarket.
These words are not weak words. He is not saying: I survived all the wars.
I just made it over the nish line.
I still believe in God.
Not at all. His heart is set; his hand is not shaking.
And now the crown of righteousness is waiting for him. There is not a shadow of doubt.
So, let’s have a look at these three statements, and may God refresh our spirits and enlighten our minds so we can hear His voice and understand the nature and content of His call and its goal.
First of all, we must understand that the main issue in this statement from the hand of Paul is neither the ght nor the faith, but the race. Therefore, Paul continued and wrote about the crown and the trophy, not the ring where the ght took place, and not about his heroic acts of faith. It is about a mission, an assignment. It all gravitates around the race.
Some Christians are very ght-focused and others are faith-focused, but most of them are not race-oriented.
We must be.
As you read this volume, keep this in mind: the race is the central issue.
Now let’s get started, and we start with the fight.
The rest is available in the booklet "THE KINGDOM BRAND | THE LEGACY, SONS AND DAUGHTERS". Mail me to purchase a copy...
The Bible is an amazing book and its texts can operate in many different ways on human hearts when the Holy Spirit is orchestrating the process. Some parts contain records of human lives, other parts detail political developments. It entails the everyday life of families, sometimes letters to churches, other times letters to persons. Sometimes it is very doctrinal and quite ‘advanced’, and other times very personal and practical. The stories are about people, their relationship with God and their journey in the Kingdom (or lack of those aspects).
But it is much more than stories. In biblical narratives people are far from being angelic beings; they are not demigods. And God is not semi-human as in religious myths. Here we meet reality.
In this passage of a letter from Apostle Paul to his mentee and spiritual son, Timothy, he is very human:
“I fought the good ght, I nished the race, I kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7
Paul had reached the end of his life and made a personal statement. Very short and substantial. These words are placed at the end of a letter full of many deep thoughts and guidelines, but we must pay attention to them even though they are few and simple.
Timothy surely did pay attention.
Paul’s letters carry a lot of revelation and insight, but occasionally
he freely wrote about himself. He was not teaching, disserting or proclaiming...he was talking. Why is it important? Why did such simple words and considerations nd their way into these weighty documents? The reason is simple: Everything which is heavenly must nd an earthly expression. It does not need to be through spectacular events challenging natural laws like earthquakes, storms, thunder and lightning. It surely can happen that way, but the highest expression
of Heaven must be in Man and through Man, as Man is God’s highest creation; de nitely higher than manifestations in the nature. What God intends to create, shape and develop in Man goes far beyond and is more breathtaking than thunder and earthquakes.
Earthly systems (political, social and educational) are created, administrated and developed by Man. Through Man, Heaven can come to Earth and begin to regulate and reform the systems which govern communities and nations. Through Man, Hell can in ltrate Earth and spread darkness and destruction.
For this reason, the enemy of God and His plan is also the enemy of Man, because Man is intended to become God’s partner. The enemy was looking for Jesus, not primarily as the Son of God, but as the Son of Man...and he did so immediately after His incarnation, His earthly birth.
Therefore, the writings of Paul about himself are essential, as we are allowed to look into his life and observe how he represented the Kingdom of Heaven in a way that in uences the kingdoms of the earth, and how he established a legacy that perpetuated to the next generations.
So Paul wrote:
I have fought the good ght. I have nished the race.
I have kept the faith.
Surprisingly, his own person is at the core of these words. Paul is speaking about himself. Why not about Jesus? Why not about God’s grace? Both are surely there, but only implicitly. The point is that the value of being God’s partner on Earth must be understood, your own value at your workplace, in your neighborhood, at the university, the hospital, in your music band, rugby team or political party, or even in the supermarket.
These words are not weak words. He is not saying: I survived all the wars.
I just made it over the nish line.
I still believe in God.
Not at all. His heart is set; his hand is not shaking.
And now the crown of righteousness is waiting for him. There is not a shadow of doubt.
So, let’s have a look at these three statements, and may God refresh our spirits and enlighten our minds so we can hear His voice and understand the nature and content of His call and its goal.
First of all, we must understand that the main issue in this statement from the hand of Paul is neither the ght nor the faith, but the race. Therefore, Paul continued and wrote about the crown and the trophy, not the ring where the ght took place, and not about his heroic acts of faith. It is about a mission, an assignment. It all gravitates around the race.
Some Christians are very ght-focused and others are faith-focused, but most of them are not race-oriented.
We must be.
As you read this volume, keep this in mind: the race is the central issue.
Now let’s get started, and we start with the fight.
The rest is available in the booklet "THE KINGDOM BRAND | THE LEGACY, SONS AND DAUGHTERS". Mail me to purchase a copy...
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