Still Running

DEVOTION
2 TIMOTHY
STILL RUNNING
2 Tim 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
NIV
I wonder how many believers feel like they are being poured out like a drink offering. There are times when I think I might feel like that, but I am sure nothing like Paul feels. His dedication to serving God and ministering to other believers is far beyond anything I have ever experienced. But I do wonder instead of just reading this as an historic account of how Paul felt and his experiences and his looking forward to his stepping into eternity, I should be applying this kind of living to myself. Should I be doing so much in the service of my Lord that I feel like I am being poured out like a drink offering? At any moment in my life can I declare I have fought the good fight? Can I say at any time I have finished the race? At what point do I declare my race to be over, and I have arrived at the finish line and it is time for me to depart? I know my Lord has a crown of righteousness waiting for me when I get there, as it is for all believers who long for his appearing. Now that is the sixty-four thousand dollar question. How many are longing for his appearing? Sometimes I think way too many believers take extraordinary measures to stay here, to keep alive in this life rather than jump into the arms of Jesus. Maybe they are really not believers, but just exhibit some form of godliness. I am convinced the only reason I am here is to serve my Lord. I am sure he has more for me to do. If my race were finished I would already be gone. There is more pouring out of myself to be done, not that I have poured that much out to begin with. There is still more fighting of the good fight for me to do. Yet I do long for the day when my Lord will appear, if not to the whole world, just to me, as he welcomes me into his rest. Sometimes I wonder why other believers fight to stay here than do nothing but complain about all they troubles, their aches and pains, the hardships of getting old, illnesses and such. And the younger ones so filled with personal ambitions and the desires to experience life to its fullness. Is that part of the fight? Is that part of keeping the faith? Certainly the race is here, and we all should be running, not in the direction we desire, but toward the finish line. The whole purpose of the race, of life itself, it to arrive at the finish line, to see Jesus, is it not? Although I surely enjoy the life God has given me here, I am looking forward to the life ahead in the everlasting presence of my Lord. I surely enjoy being among his people, and being able to be of service to him here, but I know it will be so much better being among his people there. But for now I am still running.