I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7

The 2024 Summer Olympics wrapped up recently. While I didn’t watch much of the competition, I did see the replay of the Men’s 100-meter race as the American Noah Lyles won in a photo finish. He certainly accelerated at the finish line to win the race.

When I read Paul’s words to his protege, Timothy, I imagine a man who is living his life to the fullest right until the end. Paul didn’t shrink away when he faced the end, he fought well, completed his task, and remained true to the Gospel.

Paul wasn’t risk-averse either. I think of his life as expressed in Jesus’ parable of the talents.

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability….Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more. ’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

Matthew 25: 19-21

Paul was like the man who doubled his investment, the man who was willing to take a risk. And a man who takes a risk with his life is not coasting to the finish line.

Paul seemed to grow more confident as he approached the finish line and I am sure he heard “Well done, good and faithful servant.” The question is, will we embrace this great adventure and take the risks necessary along the way?