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

2 Timothy 4:7

I know people I could describe as a “character” and others who I’ve observed a living with character. There is a difference, isn’t there?

In the end, issues of character will mean more than a life accomplishments, so why do we focus so much time and energy on things that matter so little?

In “Didn’t See It Coming”, Carey Nieuwhof discussed the issue of character in our daily lives writing that “when you are no longer breathing, the legacy you’ll leave will center on character, then delivered this truth, “eventually your life and mine will get reduced into a single sentence” (in everyday conversation).

“My mom was a kind person, we miss her. Hey, what’s for dinner?”
“My dad sure worked a lot and he loved his corvette. What time’s the game on?”

These quotes should give us a reason to pause and think because it is true, isn’t it? We do often sum up the lives of others this way, especially as time passes.

So, when I think about the idea of a life being summed up in a single sentence – kind of puts things into perspective doesn’t it?

In the verses, Paul summed up his life himself. Based on what we know in Scripture, it appears to be an accurate one liner. His life of faith was one centered on the Gospel.

Paul’s life gives us hope, because before his life of faith, he was a sworn enemy of the Gospel. So in the same way, even in the areas where I’ve failed miserably (many), I should not be discouraged because the very fact that I am still breathing means there is still hope to leave a legacy worth remembering.

In his second epistle, Peter also provides some insight as to what helps to build our character –

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8

Let’s invest our time and energy into lives of character.