Christianity is a way of life.

Thus, you are classified as a Christian based on how you do your things. There is a way that a Christian is supposed to live their lives and that us what qualifies them to be Christians.

One cannot say 'I am a Christian' but lives an opposite life style to what Christ lived.

The Christian life is not soft and easy as people want it to be, and whether we like it or not that is how it will be. If you want a soft and easy Christian life then you'd rather look elsewhere.

The apostle Paul explained to us what it takes to be a Christian and today I want us to digest what he said.

1Timothy 4:7

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I have remained faithful".

The Christian life is a fight, a race and being faithful throughout. So if you call yourself a Christian, then you have to accept the fact that Christianity is a fight to be fought, a race to be finished and faithfulness is required of you.
These are facts that you need to come into terms with and be prepared to live your life accordingly as expected.

In order words, when the time comes for you to fight, you must be aggressive and fight to win, when it is time for you to run, you must be prepared to do that and when your faithfulness is required, no matter how difficult the situation may be, you must remain faithful.

This is what Christianity means. It requires work and you can never rest until you are done.

In this episode, I will digest the first part of Paul's statement.

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT

One unique factor about the Christian fight is that, it is a good fight.

Paul did not fight any kind of fight just like that, but he fought a good one. A fight that that has an eternal reward.

We fight all kinds of fights in life, fighting to make money, fighting to live a better life, fighting to achieve success etc.

But there is only one fight that the bible says its good and that is fighting for our Salvation.

This fight involves spiritual battles, winning souls, fighting against our own bad characters, attitudes and behaviours that draws us from God and finally, fighting to get what is due us.

Paul fought for others to be saved, he fought so hard to break barriers that hinders the Good News at places where there was none. He even fought against his fellow Christian brothers who were teaching false doctrines, and finally, he fought against his own self, desires of the flesh, in order to stand for the Good News that we are preaching today.

People fought and laid down their lives for Christianity and we must also fight to keep our Christian legacy.

If we are not willing to fight as Christians, how therefore, can we keep our salvation that Jesus Christ has given us?

"Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important.
Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear". Phil 2:12

One aspect of this work that Paul was talking about is fighting.
We must fight spiritually and physically.

Beloved, do not stand idle and fold your arms, expecting things to drop on you from the the sky because that is not the Christian way of life. You are to fight it out.

A Christian who fails to fight is always defeated by the devil.

The good news for us is that an eternal reward, crown and prize awaits us in heaven.

Know this one thing that lazy people will not go to heaven.

William Boyd once wrote in a hymn that;

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Fight the good fight with all thy might!
Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right;
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

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God bless you for reading this piece and may He give you the strength and courage to fight and win all your battles.

@henryyeboah from #steemchurch Ghana.