In this scripture, Paul looked back and gave three positive statements about his ministry. Firstly he indicates that in all he endured, he didn’t shrink back from his mission or call! He remained faithful and full of purpose – fighting the good fight of faith! Secondly, he declared that he had completed the call God had personally given him. When Paul encountered Jesus at his conversion, He showed him all he would do for the kingdom, including all he would endure in the journey (Acts 9:15). Then in 2 Corinthians 12:2, we read how he was later caught up to the third heaven and received revelation knowledge, again from Jesus Himself, unfolding the glorious mystery of the new-man and life we have in Christ Jesus! Paul was mandated to write all this down and teach it to the church. Praise God – he did it all, and he did it well! Thirdly, Paul says he kept THE faith! He wasn’t speaking about a casual, sub-standard faith either. He was talking about a faith completely fixed in the resurrected Christ. His faith was rooted in the truth that we were made alive in Him, raised together with Him, and seated together with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-10). All three statements he made with the encouragement and intent for everyone of us to walk in too. He expected us to imitate him as he imitated Christ. Paul demonstrated how through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we are well able to fulfil the mandate God has given us, and finish strong – declaring the same three statements: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”. Hallelujah!