The Good Fight

 2 Tim 4:7
​​I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

I have never been to a boxing match, but I have seen videos of boxers in the ring. It is a brutal sport, and I'm not sure why anyone would enjoy it or want to engage in it. At the end of the fight, the referee will raise the winner's arm in the air, proclaiming them to be the winner, the champ. They fought a good fight and came out on top. As Christians, we fight an unseen enemy. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:12) We fight to keep the faith, we fight for the salvation of loved ones, we fight for truth and for what is right. Sometimes, the fight comes with a high price, even unto death. Paul’s departure was at hand, his life was coming to an end. Each one of us is on a course, a path to heaven. The "good fight" may not be the same for everyone. The journey we take is personal, and we all fight our own battles and spiritual wickedness in high places. Whatever the obstacle that is put before us, we need to believe in God to give us the strength and power to overcome and fight to keep the faith. The end is near. We don’t know when our course will be finished, or when the Lord will return, but we must keep our eyes on Jesus, fight to keep the faith. At the finish line, we can raise our hand in triumph, and say, “It was a good fight.”

The Rapture

1 Thess 4:16 “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first;”

This could be the year that Jesus returns to earth to rapture those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. It has been over 2,000 years since Paul wrote these words of hope and anticipation. It is still true today, The Lord is coming back to this earth some day. We know not the hour or time He will return, but His return is imminent. We live in a day where we can see the signs of His coming. Our own nation is increasingly becoming a nation where Christ and His word are no longer valued. The idea that all religion lead to eternal life or to a better place after death is the accepted teaching in our society. There has always been war and rumors of war, but we now live in a global international world. The middle east is in continual unrest, and Christian are being persecuted for standing for Christ and truth. Our hearts desire that all will come to the knowledge of Christ and be saved. We cry, “Come Lord Jesus, come” The end will soon be here, this just may be the year.