(2 Timothy 4:7) I have fought the good fight.

As Christians, we often slip into a mindset that we can live life in a “neutral space,” between good and evil.

We can not.

We must choose a side. 

We have no options. 

The image Paul has in mind when referring to a fight in 2 Timothy 4:7 most likely refers to an athlete, not a soldier.”

In the Greek, the word “fight” can refer to the idea of “wrestling” or “jiu-jitsu.” 

As the apostle Paul emphasizes, living a life in Jesus is a wrestling match involving many battles, on all fronts.

In 1 Timothy 6:12, he calls us to fight the good (noble, beautiful) fight. 

It is a good fight in the kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness in our world.

We all have obstacles and resistance in life to face and overcome. 

Neither of us is exempt. 

Our obstacles and resistance might be different, but our wrestling match of faith is the same. 

We cannot escape this spiritual struggle in life. 

We can surrender, but we cannot escape it. 

We must stay in the fight to win the wrestling match. 

We lose if we depend on our own strength.

We do not fight this battle of faith through frustration, strife, and anger. 

Paul tells us In 2 Corinthians 10:4, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, we have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

In Ephesians 6:10, we are spiritual soldiers who must put on the full armor of God’s power, righteousness, goodness, and peace in Jesus Christ. 

In the New Testament, our good fight includes resistance, tearing down, overcoming, and persevering. 

Are you fighting your spiritual battles through your own efforts?Are you being filled with the Holy Spirit and standing strong through God’s power? 

Are you fighting your spiritual battles through anger and worry, or through prayer? 

Are you a victim or a fighter? 

Take heart, Jesus Christ has overcome the world. 

We win if we remain in him (John 15:5).

He is the vine, and we are the branches.