Introduction : The old apostle Paul was waiting for the date of his capital punishment in a Roman prison, and before he died, he wanted to see his spiritual son, Timothy. In his letter to Timothy, Paul wrote a summary about his life. Paul´s reminiscence and story of hope after his death has become wonderful grace and comfort for all of us.


1. I have fought the good fight
    - Human life itself is a fight for survival    (Job 5:7)
    1) When we are born - We face great environmental change by leaving the peaceful
        protection of our mother´s womb, coming into a world filled with germs. We are
        between life and eternity during the first eight days after birth.
    2) The struggle for existence - Education, occupation, food, clothing, shelter,
        happiness, wealth, and the pursuit of a peaceful life  (Ps 37:3-4, Pr 23:17-18)
    3) A natural calamity, disease, fighting for survival from warfare  (Ps 91:2-3, 10, Pr 1:33)
    4) Spiritual warfare - Secularism, greed, anxiety, worry, tribulation
        (1Ti 6:11-12, Eph 6:12)
    5) Suffering in missionary work - Good fight
        (2Co 11:23-27, looking back over the past life)

2. I have finished the race
    1) All humankind is running one of two ways: (Mt 7:13-14)
        (1) The earthly way (broad road) - The road of humanism, the road of falsehood,
             and the road of death    (Jer 17:5)
        (2) The way of Jesus (narrow road) - The God-centered road, the road of truth,
             and the road of life    (Jn 14:6)
    2) Each one of us has the road that God predestined and the road that we chose
        * After David completed a census, God was angry and decided to punish David.
           However, God made him choose the type of punishment
        ① Three years of famine    ② Three months of fleeing from the enemy
        ③ Three days of plague - 70 thousand people died    (2Sa 24:14-15)
            * My pastoral ministry was the road that God predestined - When I chose
               Bulgwang-dong, when I chose Seodaemun, and when I chose
               Yoido, I chose each one according to the good, pleasing, and perfect will of
               God    (Jer 1:5, Ro 12:2)
    3) Predetermination and choice
        (1) Predetermination (it is useless, even though we pray) - Human race,
             geographical feature, an age, culture, and parents - given conditions
        (2) The choice (goodwill, pleasing will, perfect will of God) - Study, spouse,
             occupation, environment, friends, etc.
            * Paul did not give up the mission of God, and he obeyed to the end (until the
               Roman prison). We also should not give up the way of following the Lord and
               should run until we get to a terminal station in our lives.
               (2Co 1:9-10, Php 3:12, Heb 3:14)

3. I have kept the faith
    1) The faith is a treasure that is given by God    (Jude 1:3)
    2) The faith that we must keep
        (1) The faith of a road - indifference    (Mt 13:19)
        (2) The faith of a gravelly field - habitual, formal    (Mt 13:20-21)
        (3) The faith of a thornbush - trampled by greed    (Mt 13:22)
        (4) The faith of fertile soil - precious faith    (Mt 13:23)


Conclusion : (2Ti 4:5)
There is a higher judgment in heaven. A crown of life for martyrs, a crown of glory for pastors and for those who took good care of a flock of sheep, a crown of righteousness for those who lived a life of faith, and a crown that will never fade away will be given to people who barely made it to heaven.