July 15, 2013 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. – 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT) One historian observed that in the first century men named their sons "Nero," after the famed Caesar. They would not disgrace even their dogs with Christian names. Today, we name our children after the Christians of that era and call our dog "Nero." Nero was a mad ruler of Rome who wanted to build a new city as a memorial to himself. He had the city of Rome set on fire and according to legend "fiddled while Rome burned." Seeking a scapegoat, he blamed the Christians for the fire. This initiated one of the bloodiest persecutions of believers in history. The early church was reeling under this bitter blow from a cruel emperor when Paul wrote his last Epistle. In prison awaiting his execution, Paul took time to write his last will and testament to young Timothy. As we read this great work, we are struck with the positive attitude of Paul. Rather than fearing death, he actually looks forward to it because he is sure he will then be with the Lord. He had no regrets for he had fought a good fight and had kept the faith. One important theme in 2 Timothy is that Paul considered the Christian life a fight against the forces of evil. He had no illusions. We are saved to serve rather than to be served. He told Timothy: You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). This realistic look at the life of faith causes some to shun a commitment to the Lord. However, true believers understand that we are pitted against the evil of our times. Satan does all he can to stop the work of God. There will always be "Neros," instruments of the devil, to try to crush the saints. But remember, the "Neros" die in disgrace, while the church of Christ marches on from victory to victory.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 11:42:39 +0000
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