The Messenger - October 9, 2009

When I began to preach this series of sermons on Paul's second Timothy several weeks ago, I was responding to the poignant and personal nature of this correspondence. Several of Paul's comments moved me, and this Sunday's was no exception:

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

2 Timothy 4:7

I have often thought of this particular text as Paul's salutatory address--his thoughts about life from a period near the end. And I have been impressed by his look "back" on this life. Who wouldn't want to say "I've fought the good fight. I have devoted myself to worthwhile causes"? Who wouldn't want to say "I finished the race. I finished my task; I did my job"? And who wouldn't want to say "I've kept the faith. I've been loyal to my family, my community, my country, and my God"?

In a very famous series of essays, a developmental psychologist named Erik Erikson suggested that every stage of this life brings particular challenges, but all of them lead up to one ultimate challenge--a challenge that he called "integrity vs. despair." When almost all of life is finished, and you look back upon it all, what will you see? Will you think "I invested my life in noble causes." Not everything was successful, but everything was worth the effort, and I lived according to my values and beliefs." That's the voice of integrity. Or will you think, "I wasted so much energy and time on things that were not worth my efforts. And now, there's no time left to make a change." That's the voice of despair.

Paul speaks to us with the voice of integrity, and his words encourage each of us who do have some time left to live for a purpose much greater than ourselves. We uncover this purpose in personal experience, we confirm this purpose in Scripture, we develop this purpose with peers, we strengthen this purpose with prayer, and we sustain this purpose with faithful friends. That's why regular time spent in worship is so very important, and that's why we must develop deep and faithful relationships with other Christians. You can start that process by signing up for some small service or study group this very week, and you can sustain it through the worship of God this very Sunday at First Presbyterian Church.

In Erikson's view of life, integrity must be developed over many, many years. But the good news is that you can take a big step upon that journey today.

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=A92009 - First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro