You have fought the good fight, You have finished the race, You have kept the faith - 2 Timothy 4:7
Remember as you leave Lead City University, Ibadan that your generation has promise just like every every generation before it, but every generation before you has failed that promise in some respect, the question now, and the issue that arises it will it be your generation that does something extra ordinary, some different and something enduring? Some believe our country Nigeria is a very difficult idea filled with promise and impossible to live up to, however, the promises of God are permanent, they are yea and amen and it is what binds us and indeed you together. In the graduating class of 2016, not all have completed the course, for some have withdrawn, some got sick, some got rich, some had bad luck, however, you are the some who are fortunate, more than others.
Lets go to the text and see the relevance of one fighter and one victor who finished his course.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 9Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” This well-known and oft-quoted passage is quite significant in that this epistle was Paul’s last before his martyrdom in A.D. 67. It is a deeply moving affirmation of his unwavering faith and unyielding love for the gospel of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:4; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21).
“I have fought the good fight” is also significant for believers today because it serves as a stark reminder that the Christian life is a struggle against evil—within ourselves and in the world (John 15:9; Romans 8:7; James 4:4). Earlier in this same epistle, Paul reminded Timothy to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).
The Greek word agonizomai, translated “fought,” means literally “to engage in conflict.” (You have engaged in the conflict of exams, projects, assignments and the lot) The word was used in the context of competing in athletic games or engaging in military conflict. Considering that Paul was chained to a Roman soldier when he wrote this epistle, it would have been easy for him to make such an analogy. In fact, he had known many Roman soldiers and during his imprisonment had won a number of them to Christ, some of them members of the Praetorian Guard (Philippians 1:13).
Our battle is not with flesh and blood “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The Christian life is a fight in that Christians face a never-ending struggle against evil—not an earthly military campaign, but a spiritual battle against Satan. This is why we must “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day” (see Ephesians 6:13-18).
Without question, the apostle Paul was the consummate warrior, never quitting, never flagging in his zeal for the Lord (Philippians 3:14-15). He knew where lay the source of his strength (Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9). His campaign to spread the gospel of Christ began on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:3) and eventually took him across the ancient world on four missionary journeys. He had witnessed of Christ before Felix and Agrippa, the legates and officials of Rome (Acts 23:26; Acts 26:1). He contended with false teachers and false brethren within the church (2 Corinthians 11:13; Galatians 1:7; Galatians 2:4).
Paul’s “good fight” included an astonishing series of dangers and indignities (2 Corinthians 11:23-33). Even in these he proclaimed his victory in Christ: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Therefore I submit that for those of you graduates of Social and Management Sciences you, must not be afraid to follow the truth where ever it leads as Thomas Jefferson says.
To the Scientists, the new graduates among you, you must note that scientific truth ennobles you, it tells you who you are where you have been and where you are going.
And to the educationists amongst you, you must not relegate truth itself to an elusive idea, but you must believe that truth will only be found when all of you are free to pursue it.
Finally, graduands of 2016 as you proceed out of this place, this hollowed chapel, as you depart your hostels, and exit this University remember that your ideas sown in this low and fertile land, recall the extraordinary dissent you may have voiced during scholarship whilst researching, restate the one opinion you provided in mutual exchanges in lecture theatres, all these will hold you in good stead, its time may not be now but imagine that 20 years later someone digs it up at 3.am in the morning and it becomes accepted wisdom, imagine it goes on to transform the world all because of the four years you spent at Lead City University.
On a jovial note some may remember the memorable expressions of bloke, dodgy, shebang, fun and games sometimes uttered from my mouth but beyond this we like Paul must be ready to be offered, be ready for our time of departure, to fight the good fight, finish our course of life and ultimately keep our faith. That alone will be our mark and everlasting legacy.
Paul’s life and ministry provide for us a powerful example for modeling Christ today. Not only did he “fight the good fight,” but he also “finished the race” and “kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul knew that his death was near (verse 6) but had no regrets. After Jesus took control of his life (Acts 9:15-16), Paul had lived life to the fullest, fulfilling all that Jesus had charged and empowered him to do (Ephesians 3:6; 2 Timothy 4:17). He had a remarkable sense of fulfillment and contentment with his life (Philippians 4:11-13; 1 Timothy 6:6-8).
As believers today, we can have no greater sense of fulfillment than to know, as Paul did, that we have fully accomplished all that the Lord has called us to do (Matthew 25:21). May we “fight the good fight” and “be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [our] ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).
You must ask yourself as I conclude this message what will be the next thing to challenge us after Lead City University, that makes us go farther and work harder? Do you know that when smallpox was eradicated, it was considered the single greatest humanitarian achievement of the last century? Surely we can do it again, as we did in the times when our faith was unshaken and our eyes looked towards the heavens and with outstretched fingers, and we touched the face of God. Today we celebrate absent friends and us that are present here now.
Graduates of 2016 you must do what is hard in order to achieve what is great for this is a time for Nigerian heroes and you must reach for the galaxy of stars and the glories set beyond it, you must never doubt that a small group of committed and thoughtful citizens can change the world and finally never forget that change comes in excruciating increments to those that want it. You, graduates of 2016, must be the change you wish to see in the world. Don’t count the days but make the days count and of course you must believe that to you impossible is reduced to nothing! God bless you and thank you for this privilege.
