With Memorial Day approaching wherein we honor those who have fought valiantly for our freedom even to their death. I could not help but think of the fierce spiritual warfare we are presently facing. Personally and collectively, we must fight the good fight of faith. It appears to be one that we too will have to fight up to our deaths.
You may say, “What does it mean to fight the good fight of faith?” It means persevering in your faith regardless of the opposition that is waging war against it. It is deliberately and consistently having confidence in and reliance upon God for all things pertaining to life. It is trusting Him no matter what bombards you to doubt Him. Through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, it is maintaining a faith that does not crumble beneath the battles of life.
However, when I looked up the Greek concerning these words found in 1 Timothy 6:12, I realize it is a different type of fight to be fought. It is not military conflict on a battlefield as we think of those who did so regarding Memorial Day. The word “fight” in Greek is agōnizomai. It is an athletic term meaning “to engage in a contest.” This contest involves the whole life of the believer, as he is called to live out in daily practice the eternal life which is already his. That is a mouthful; so, let us dive deeper.
An athlete is one who conjures up an image of someone who is muscular, physically fit, strong, and energetic. And he would have to be an athlete to engage in a contest his entire life and not fizzle out. Additionally, looking further into the Greek word agōnizomai you understand it to mean: to struggle; to compete for a prize; to contend with an adversary; to endeavor to accomplish something; to make every effort; to do everything possible; to strive against difficulties and dangers with strenuous zeal. We learn from the Greek meaning of this word “fight” that engaging in this contest is no yoke! Stop for a moment and read over what “fight” means again in Greek. We are to agōnizomai the good fight of faith.
We are to give our all to the worthiest of struggles, and that is to engage in the contest to uphold our faith. This faith is in God alone. It is a “good” fight. It is the worthiest fight. It goes beyond this world into eternity. It has eternal consequences and rewards. It brings victory to us and bears witness to the glory of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each Christian is called to this good fight.
In appearance you may have flabby muscles, arthritis in your joints, a bulging stomach, falling arches and more. However, in the power of the Holy Spirit you are deemed athletic enough to fight this good fight unto death. For this is spiritual warfare that goes beyond a physical battlefield (Ephesians 6:12). In Ephesians 6:16 you are told that you can lift your shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of Satan––not some darts, but ALL. When you know who you are in Jesus, it will cause you not to sink under circumstances, but soar in His divine power.
Fighting the good fight of faith is deciding:
I want to encourage you to fight and not sit on the sidelines. Personally and collectively, we must fight this good fight of faith. Stay engaged in the contest to the very end. Do not throw the towel in or give up. Know that you are already athletically equipped and already guaranteed eternal life as a Christian. No one can disqualify you for this race but yourself. Do not let that happen. Keep your focus on Jesus and determinedly run for that finish line. And at some point, I will be there to congratulate you as well on fighting the good fight.
Paula is compassionately committed to biblically teach and mentor women who desire to be renewed in their minds by God’s eternal Word so their destinies will become a reality. She goes beyond sharing biblical principles to practical application for everyday living.
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