"Good Grows"

"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace." (Psalms 37:37) I like how the story ends with peace; not that we cannot have peace now, because we can, and we actually should; if we don't have peace now, then there is something wrong in our lives. But what I am talking about is the "end", meaning at the end of our life; just as Paul, who knowing that his time had come, evaluated his life in Christ, and had peace with all that he had done; we find this account in 2 Timothy, as Paul was now in prison as a criminal, and was pretty much just waiting to be executed. He was writing to Timothy as if he were his son, giving him exhortation, instruction, and letting him know how ready he was to be with the Lord. This is the kind of peace that David is speaking of, the kind that is ready to go, having done all that he could to run the race well and to finish his course. Whereas the wicked fades and is no more, those that are good grow and their pleasure is increased, knowing that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new eternity. That my friend is what the "good fight" is all about; it's about being prepared to stand in the presence of God, and to not be ashamed in His presence; that does not mean that we have been perfect, because no one is but one, and that is Jesus; but it means that we trust in the salvation that has been made available for us, and that we have done our best to get it right. The word "perfect" is more about being complete, as in one who lacks nothing; which is what we became the instant we were born again, we were made complete; having the Spirit of God now living within us, we now are spiritually alive in Christ, and fellowship has been restored with God; meaning, that which had been destroyed by Adam's sin, has now been restored through Jesus Christ. Perfect also means upright, but in the sense of having been made upright because of being undefiled; which again, is only made possible through faith in Jesus Christ; having been justified in Christ by the washing away of our sins, we have been made as white as snow; just as if we had never sinned. The word "upright" that David uses, is a word that means straight, right, or correct, such as would be the case for having chosen the right path, or having taken the straight road, or the correct choice in direction. Basically, that is what Paul is referring to by saying, "I have finished my course", because what might be right for him, may not be the same for someone else; God let's each of us individually know what He expects from us, and we know when we fall short; which then, our falling short is the same as missing the mark, which is sin. But God, who is rich in grace and mercy, will freely forgives us that sin, and cleanse us of all unrighteousness, if we truly confess it and ask His forgiveness; the result of which is peace... "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8)