This past Wednesday - in downtown Karachi, Pakistan - two gunman connected with an Islamic militant group entered the office of a joint Catholic/Protestant relief organization. The gunman methodically separated the 15 Christians from the others in the office - by offering the Christians an opportunity to convert to Islam or die. Those who refused to renounce their faith in Jesus the gunman bound and gagged and then shot in the head at point blank range.

Another example - a little closer to home. In his autobiography, “Barefoot Boy From Anatolia” - Haig Baronian describes his family’s deportation in 1915. Haig’s father was drafted into the Turkish Army - His grandfather Hagop was poisoned on a business trip into the village. His remaining family was deported. One day a Turk on horseback galloped up towards Haig’s family and spoke with Haig’s mother. He told how, after the caravans left the village all the Armenian men in prisons were taken out with their hands tied - shot - and dumped into trenches.

He urged Haig’s mother to renounce Christianity, accept Islam, and return to her home and save the children. His mother’s answer was, “Never!”

At the next village - a Turk pulled Haig away from His mother - she and the caravan were marched into the Syrian deserts. Haig never saw his mother again.

Here in the Bay Area. We live in this wonderful politically correct society. Where Satanist clubs on our High School campuses are seen as a kind of enlightenment. With Bishop Swing and his 200 Member United World Religions. The San Francisco Inter-faith Council - where they speak of “faith traditions” - not a saving relationship only found in Jesus Christ. Where about 94% of the population has very little if anything to do with Jesus and His Church. Where being “One nation under God” has become politically divisive. We have to make choices - even here. Our life may not be on the line - not just yet. But, increasingly - in this increasingly anti-God society - to live for Jesus Christ takes a commitment that is not easy. The pressure to compromise - to bend - to remain silent - to cave in - that pressure is very real and growing.

This is where Paul begins in encouraging Timothy - 1 Timothy 6:12: Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Timothy - alone in this great city of Ephesus is given a challenge - to serve in a church - in a difficult ministry - in a city of great evil - where the pressure to compromise and give in is very real. If you’ve ever felt alone - with the weight of great responsibility on your shoulders - with the burden of issues deep within - with no one to turn to - you can understand how Timothy felt.

The Apostle Peter writes, Your adversary - Satan - prowls around like a roaring lion, - scheming - plotting - deceiving - seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Paul writes in Ephesians 6, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Behind the scenes of life is Satan - a malicious enemy who’s always looking for people he can get to. Satan and his demonic army arrayed against us are powerful. He has authority. He’s wicked. He’s cunning. He looks for any opportunity to distort truth and lead us into darkness - to demoralize us - to ruin us - to destroy us - to destroy our relationships - husband and wives - families - to destroy our effectiveness in ministry - to turn us away from God.

The Christian life is a battleground. Life is a battleground. It would be nice if our troubles just sort of disappeared. God may give us times of peace and joy that we can thank Him for. But, we’re always going to be in the fight of our lives. We can’t forget that. Here in 1 Timothy 6 - the word “fight” in Greek is “agonizou” which is where our word “agony” comes from. The Greeks spoke of a wrestler who would “agonize” - struggle - against his adversary - pursuing victory - “agonize the good agony of faith.”

Paul encourages Timothy, Fight the good fight of faith - Its agony - but keep going - persevere - take hold of the eternal life to which you were called - that’s the victory - its worth it - take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

“Timothy - you chose to follow Jesus. Before witnesses you confessed faith in Jesus Christ - in His victory over all this on the cross. Keep it up. God has called you to this.”

Now - that’s the context. But, how do we do this? How do we fight on - with The Essential of Hope? To fight on - with hope - we need to have always before us the vision of Jesus Christ - who He is. Look with me at verses 13 to 16 and notice 3 truths that Paul encourages Timothy with - and us - 3 truths that encourage us to fight on with hope.

First - The Confession of Jesus. Verse 13: I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate

Do you remember this scene? Jesus before Pilate. The reason Jesus was there was because the Chief Priests hated Him. After all of Pilate’s questions Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Jesus. He knew that Jesus was innocent. He was looking for a reason to let Jesus go - to wash his hands of the whole thing.

Then, there was the question, “Are You the King of the Jews?” If Jesus says “No” - denying that He is the Messiah - He might have lived. If Jesus answers “Yes” - His fate is sealed - death awaits. Jesus answers, “It is as you say.” The clearest response possible. “Its exactly what you said.” That confession costs Jesus His life. (Matthew 27:11) Choosing to say “yes” leads Jesus to His death which - Praise God! - leads to His resurrection and God’s offer of salvation to each one of us.

There are times when we’re faced with the decision to say “no” when everyone around us is saying “yes.” Or there will be times when we need to say “yes” - times when it will be hard or embarrassing to admit we’re Christians. That “no” or “yes” may cost us greatly. But, we need to remember the confession of Jesus - to remember that there is more at stake here than just a “yes” or “no.”

When we feel beaten down - dejected - holding up more than we can possibly uphold and hanging on to more than we can possibly hang on to. When we’ve reached the end of our rope - tied a knot - and we’re hanging there - just barely. When to live for Jesus only brings more of the same - if not worse. We need to remember Jesus before Pilate.

Jesus - risen from death - says to His disciples, “You shall be My witnesses.” “Witness” is the Greek word “martureo” - martyr. Choose to follow Jesus - to trust Him as your Savior - and there’s no option. We shall be witnesses of Him - confessing Him - following Him even in martyrdom.

But, what is it that we confess? We confess that God, “who gives life to all things” - is the resurrected Jesus - that even while we were dead in our sin - Jesus made the good confession going to the cross for us. That God in Jesus gives life to us. We confess the realization of our salvation and the presence of the living God in our lives today. That’s hope.

Do you do that? Do you remember Jesus and the life offers you? At work - dealing with the children - shopping - out in the battleground of life - do you live knowing that He’s with you?

First we need to keep before us the confession of Jesus. Then - second - Paul writes of The Coming of Jesus. Verse 14: keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time.

Notice two things here. First, we’re encouraged to “keep the commandment” - to keep living in obedience to God until Jesus does come back. There’s an urgency here.

The Bible says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the righteousness and holiness of God. We don’t measure up. We don’t deserve to enter into eternity with God. Ultimately, when Jesus returns, we’ll have to give an account for ourselves before God. We’ll be judged for our sins. (Romans 3:23)

Many people today dismiss the idea of sin and judgment as outdated - as too narrow minded - not worthy of a God of love. They want to pursue other politically correct ideas and their own brand of religion. We have that ability. We can pursue any philosophy - any goals - any belief we want. But God is honest with us. He tells us that we’re sinners. Tells us that what’s coming is eternal separation from God.

Paul writes in Romans 6, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) God loves us - God desires to give us “Life” - life now and through eternity. We need to be obedient in sharing that message of hope with others.

Notice also that Paul writes that Jesus will appear “at the proper time.”

A few months back we had a class here at CACC on Sunday mornings. The focus was on trying to examine current events in the light of Biblical prophecy. That always seems to be a significant question. “Are we in the last days? Is Jesus coming back now? Is this it?” We’re constantly speculating about what comes next. Because we don’t know. None of us has been there. When and how do we enter into eternity?

When will Jesus come back? When God is good and ready for Him to come back - in His proper time. The whole of history is moving according to the plan and program of God. It will happen and nothing can stop it.

Jesus - who speaks with the authority of the only one who has triumphed over death and Himself ascended into heaven - Jesus says this, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1,3)

This is a hope that we share as Christians - Jesus is coming back and we will spend eternity with Him.

The Confession of Jesus, The Coming of Jesus, then in verse 15 Paul goes on to The Crown of Jesus. He - Jesus - who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

We get anxious about what George Bush and Saddam Hussein will do - about terrorist attacks - the economy - what will happen tomorrow. But men are not in control. The United Nations is the not ultimate authority. The circumstances we find ourselves in are not sovereign. Even those who would bring us to physical death do not have power over our lives. God is in control. Jesus is the only Sovereign - the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Look at how Paul describes Jesus - verse 16 - Jesus alone “possesses immortality” That means that only Jesus is able to conquer death. Immortality is His possession and what He gives to all those who will come to Him as their Savior.

Jesus “dwells in unapproachable light” - holy - not darkened by sin as we are. We can’t even begin to imagine that kind of purity.

Then, Jesus is God “whom no man has seen or can see.” But we do see Jesus - born in a stable in Bethlehem - the invisible God made visible. God reaching to our level - the unknowable - unapproachable - making Himself knowable.

Finally, after all this maybe Paul couldn't contain himself - he exclaims, “To Him - Jesus - be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”

Do you think Timothy was encouraged - given hope to carry on by what Paul wrote to him? Fighting the good fight of faith - God hasn’t abandoned us here - left us to muddle along under our own power - to struggle along with our plans. God is here - behind the scenes of history - available to us - revealed and known in Jesus Christ. In Jesus we always have hope. We always can know God’s peace and security in whatever circumstances we may be called to testify of Him.