God Wins!

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
GOD WINS
2 Tim 2:22-23

22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
NIV
What are the evil desires of youth? I think for the most part many people would simply think of the sensual temptations the youth deal with. But I wonder if lust would not be a better word, which not only includes the sensual, but also the lust for power, the lust of ambition and striving to gain position and recognition. Timothy had to be in his late thirties or early forties and is not this the time men crave for position? The drive for success and the glory of advancement in careers I think is far greater than any sensual craving. I remember wanting to make my mark on the world at the age. I wanted to build something that would last, my name would be remembered and I would be thought of well. Although I never was motivated by the accumulation of wealth, I was seeking recognition. Flee from these things. I think I have simply from the passing youth and the ever creeping years of age, and maybe that creeping is more like a fast walk now. But it is the rest of the verse which should be the ambition and goal of all believers, not just the young. To pursue righteousness is a lifelong project, never to be completed until I step into eternity. To pursue after faith seems a bit strange. I have faith, whether than is defined as moral conviction in the truth of God or complete reliance on Christ for salvation. How can I pursue any more of that? I suppose it is easy to get distracted and start to think I actually should rely I myself for some things, and leave God out of the equation, but I simply can’t do that, I need him in every aspect of my life. I know I need to pursue more of the love thing though. I think I miss the mark in some cases, with some people. True love requires a complete sacrifice of self, giving up any desires, ambitions, needs, wants, in order to meet the desires, ambitions, needs and wants of another. With true love there can be no self, Christ being the prime example. This I still must pursue. Peace is not the opposite of war, but to be prosperous in my spirit. I must be in the tranquil state so assured of my salvation through Christ that I fear nothing from God and I am content with my earthy lot, of whatsoever sort that might be. That is true peace, of which I believe I pursued and have acquired, although I still know that the tempter still tries to disrupt my righteousness, love, faith and most of my peace. He will fail because God wins!