Holding Faith

Paul charged Timothy to “war a good warfare” (v. 18), by “holding faith, and a good conscience.” He tells Timothy and us to take a stand for the truth of the gospel, because we are soldiers “of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:3), in the midst of a spiritual warfare (Eph 6:12). Every bible-believing Christian must realize that there will be trials and troubles (Jn 16:33), along “the path of life” (Ps 16:11). But we must neither be distracted nor detoured by them! Because we understand that the trial of our faith (1 Pet 1:7), is part of the Christian experience; and we are called upon to face them with “patience and longsuffering” (Col 1:11), “in the power of His might (Eph 6:10)!

Timothy was to follow Paul’s example to keep his body “into subjection” (1 Cor 9:27), so he can “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12). Surely, we cannot fight and win this battle with “an arm of the flesh” (2 Chr 32:8). Neither with our own might nor with our own power (Zec 4:6). Our strength comes only from the Lord (Ps 28:7); Who is “a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1). During this day and age of apostasy (1 Tim 4:1), we must keep holding the faith! Paul said that he served the Lord “with pure conscience” (2 Tim 1:3).

It means that he always had “a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). We must always “put on the whole armour of God” (Eph 6:11), because our fight is against Satan, the “strong man” (Mt 12:29). This is not a fight based on our own choices. But we must obey God to fight His battles, His way (1 Sam 17:47). Otherwise, we could end up in a spiritual “shipwreck,” like “Hymenaeus and Alexander” (v. 20). They got off course and crashed. We are still in a fight today just like Timothy. We must continue fighting the same way he did by holding faith! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera