Entering the Mind
Maybe a person has to get to a certain age before such words become part of his or her vocabulary. Maybe one has to be closer to the end than to the beginning before such becomes an issue. But somewhere along the way the phrase “finishing well” began to matter.
I wonder when the issue of “finishing” began to roll around in Paul the apostle’s head. Did he see the end? Or did he just finally come to know his own heart? We know when he uttered those now famous words in his 2nd letter to Timothy he was chained up in a prison in Rome no doubt aware of the imminent end of his ministry life:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6–8
It seemed that through all that occurred in his life, Paul had already considered the matter. Maybe, just maybe, he had already put the matter to bed all the way back on that Damascus road. And maybe, like some of us, he thought about it every day of his ministry.
Throw in the Towel
Sadly, such thoughts do not come naturally in all of us. For just a couple of verses later, Paul remarked “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica” – 2 Timothy 4:10. Demas was a fellow minister…dubbed a “fellow worker” in Philemon 24, who had served alongside Paul, and had apparently “thrown in the towel.”
And while we do not know what eventually happened to Demas, we do know that we never heard from him again. We also know that Demas was surrounded by some real credible people who, like Paul, went on to leave a legacy of ministry. By all measures, Demas had everything he needed to make good on what he started; a good teacher, godly committed friends, and sold-out fellow ministers. But despite things being stacked in his favor, Demas still apparently went down in flames.
We know very little else about Demas. But if he was like the rest of us, he no doubt had other plans as to how his life would play out. We all start this Jesus thing with more than the “best-of-intentions.” We all intend to not only “finish well,” we aim to do it all up in style. With a ribbon and everything. Nobody gets into this with plans to fail. Nobody wants to take a dive.
“Always Faithful”
I am regularly reminded of the motto of the United States Marine Corps, a phrase we all have heard, the idiom Semper Fi. It is a Latin phrase that means “always faithful” or “always loyal”. I have read of countless stories and accounts of marines risking their own lives for other marines, even to bring home their body if lost in combat. Not to mention that these guys are serious fighters. I mean, what’s a man to think when he hears “excuse me, but there’s a bunch of marines outside…” Let’s face it, these guys (and ladies) have some serious street cred.
Now my question, at least to me, just has to be asked: Where are the Christians? Don’t get me wrong, I’m soooo glad those marines are out there, and I think when they come home from combat they should get anything they need, and a lot of what they want. And I happen to think America is worth fighting for, not to mention a lot of other righteous battles around the world. But come on, we are fighting for GOD…and the whole of humanity¸ and is that not worth at least the same level of commitment and loyalty?
Now we cannot deny we as Christians have a formidable enemy. He is crafty and powerful, and means to do us great harm. But should that not call us even more so to the loyalty and commitment that is demanded of us? There is more than freedom at stake for us. EVERYTHING is at stake. And it takes so very little to distract us, and get us to run.
In the 2008 book, In a Time of War, involving 600 interviews with soldiers and their families, there is a story about one lieutenant who took over his first platoon just hours before he had to lead them in the invasion of Iraq. He said the following:
“I don’t know what awaits us on the other side of that berm,” 22-year-old Joe DaSilva told his troops. “But I’ll tell you this. If I have to give my life for any of you I will do it in a heartbeat.”
Like-minded
I have spent my life seeking that kind of loyalty and commitment from fellow “troops.” Those who love their cause and their fellow servicemen with that kind of pledge. It’s not an impossible dream, for the pages of history are full of such “soldiers.” I want to be one, and I want to serve beside others.
One could try to explain it all, or make sense of what makes such a person “tick.” But one thing is for sure. There is nothing more important. Nothing higher. Nothing more imperative. It’s the same thing that takes a couple to their 50th anniversary, takes doctors to the craziest corners of the earth, and causes people to sail oceans alone and climb mount Everest. I guess you could call it passion. I call it love. And nothing drives a person like real and undying love.
Paul, it seems, loved His Lord. Further, he loved his fellowman. He even once said he would give his life…he would be willing to “be accursed,” if he thought it would redeem his brethren. But Demas did not. And he threw in the towel when things got rough.
I’m thankful for guys like Paul. He “finished well.” And for those of you who are willing to “go over that berm” into the unknown with me, well, semper fi…