I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course and I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)
Longevity is an easy thing to achieve, at least in America. Take a look at these statistics: Out of 100,000 people, 88,361 reach the age of 50, more than 70,000 reach the age of 70, and nearly 17,000 reach the age of 85 or older.
However, living a long life is not our main goal. Rather, we should pay more attention to the issue of giving meaning and value to the years we live and not letting them pass in shame and disgrace. How we finish the race depends on the long strides we take during life.
Joseph Wittig noted that when we write a biography of a person, we should start with their death, not with their birth. In the end, we have nothing to do with how we are born, but we do have a lot to do in terms of how we end up.
When Paul wrote II Timothy, he was in a Roman prison awaiting punishment. He said, "As for me, my blood has already begun to be poured out as an offering and the hour of my death is near" (2 Timothy 4:6). At that moment he could testify, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).
We can also reach the finish line in the Christian life well, even if we start late, walk slowly, or are far behind. The secret is to stay in Christ to the end -- HWR
PEOPLE WHO PRIORITIZE GOD WILL GET HAPPINESS AT THE END
* Take from Daily Reflections