Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Summary: It is helpful to remember that two things can be true at the same time.
It is easy to read this passage as encouragement. In fact, I am certain that is how Paul meant it. He just finished describing the “fight” that Timothy is to seek out. Not a “fight” like a conflict between people, but the challenge of accomplishing a task greater than any human competition: staying true to our Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what.
Now, in this passage, Paul says, “Take hold of the eternal life….”
Do you know what bothers me about this? It seems to conflict with Paul’s other teachings about faith:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Do you see the difference?
On the one hand, Paul says, “Take hold,” as if we have to do something to earn eternal life. On the other, he says salvation is “the gift of God… so that no one can boast.”
What is going on here?
Centuries before Paul wrote his letter, the prophet Malachi, speaking for God, says:
“Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.” (Malachi 3:7)
Later, another Apostle, James, would write something similar:
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
There is a bit of a paradox at work here. God is unchanging (Hebrews 6:17), so it is up to us to respond to him. We can reject him or embrace him, but he will not be ignored.
Salvation is indeed a gift, as Paul says, but what do we do when someone gives us a gift? Do we say, “Put it on the floor and I’ll get to it later?,” or do we say, “Thank you!” and reach out to accept it?
To receive the gift, we have to accept it. When we unwrap it and open the box, when we discover that the gift is eternal life, we have to “take hold” of it if we want to have it.
Application: Accept God’s gift. Reach out and take it!
Food for Thought: What happens when a person ‘takes hold’ of eternal life?
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