Rules of Engagement
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
Good Fight – Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be as bold as Paul is as he describes his life? Could you say to the world that you have fought the good fight? Do you find your hesitating, shrinking back from a claim like this because you remember the days when disobedience reigned or the times when you didn’t do what you knew to be right? Does it take a Damascus road experience to produce “good fight” living?
Paul didn’t seem to think so. He actually told his fellow believers to imitate him just as he imitated Jesus. Was he just being theatrical, or did he really mean that we also are able to finish the course with victory? There are plenty of days when it looks like our fights are going to end with a TKO. But maybe that’s because we don’t really understand what the “good fight” really is.
In Greek, the verse puts the words “good fight” in the place of emphasis – the first words of the sentence. Literally, the verse reads, “the fight the good I have fought.” The words are ton agona ton kalon, from agon (fight, strife, contest) and kalos (good in quality and character). The first thing we notice is that Paul uses a word that could describe the Olympic Games. This is a contest for victory. Someone will get the gold medal. It is not a blood bath brawl. But that doesn’t mean it is easy. It is a struggle, prepared for by years of training, dedication and commitment. It is agony, refusing to quit, denying distractions, pushing yourself to the limit. This fight is the marathon of life. Yes, you might misstep along the way. You might discover you are off pace. But there is time to recover. What matters is the finish line. Pick up and get going.
But this isn’t just a “pedal to the metal” race. This is the good fight. Here the word kalos does not necessarily mean moral. It is a description of the quality of the agony. This fight is purposeful, useful, of excellent character, complete and profitable. Kalos is an important part of Greek thinking because it puts emphasis on the beauty and harmony of the action. What makes an act good is more than its outward operation. Jesus says as much in His comments on the white-washed character of the acts of the Pharisees. Their outward performance, no matter how apparently noble, lacked the essential character of kalos. But the Good Samaritan had the character of heart to match his outward actions. The good fight is agony of the soul, bent to the will of the Father. Jesus’ life is the paradigm example of ton agona ton kalos, His life placed in the hands of the Father’s purposes. What matters most is the inner submission and motivation.
Have you taken a few counter-punches from the enemy? Do you find yourself resonating with the Paul of Romans 7 (“I do not do the good that I wish to do”)? Giving yourself a pep talk probably won’t work. That’s outer execution. Go deep. Inside. The good fight is victorious when your spirit is in alignment with the beauty of the Lord.
