2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Interesting points:
1. In this verse, Paul provided us an inspiring testimony even as his death by execution approached: he had lived a life in faithful service to God, sacrificing self to fulfill His purpose and remaining true to Him despite the many trials.

2. In 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul commanded Timothy to "fight the good fight"; a tenet he himself set an example for in defending the faith from false teachers and other adversaries, enduring persecution, and the struggle to live righteously against the desires of his own sinful nature.

3. Paul stated that he had “finished the race” or completed the mission he was given by God. In 1 Corinthians 9:24 Paul spoke of our Christian faith as a race, saying, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." And in Hebrews 12:1, the author reminds us, "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

4. Lastly, Paul writes that he has kept the faith: he remained steadfast in the Truth. As he commanded the Corinthian Christians in 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul set the example of what it was to "stand firm in the faith".

Application.
Brothers, this beautiful verse is an inspiring motivation as we pick up our crosses each day. Like Paul, may we one day – as death approaches – be able to echo his words in saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"!

The time to start disciplining ourselves and exercising our spiritual muscles is now and although we may fall, fail or struggle, may we understand that we cannot hope to achieve this goal on our own strength. God has provided us a helper in the Holy Spirit to transform us from the wretches we once were to become His people, called forth and saved in the name of Jesus!