These words, penned almost two thousand years ago resinated in my mind and my heart today.

“The faith” that Paul is talking about here is not the effort he has put into his life’s work. It’s not something he has earned through faithful service. It’s not even the accolades he might (but doesn’t) seek for fulfilling his life’s calling. No, “The Faith” as Paul expresses it here, ultimately means his acceptance of God’s gift of grace for his transgressions.

These words resound as key words for me. Nothing in my life is of greater worth. I could fail at everything else, but if I keep the faith. That’s the one thing. That’s the most important thing.

These last few weeks have been hard for me. I’ve finished a job that felt really important to me. In fact I felt it was my calling. It felt tough, but worth it. And in an instant it was ripped from my hands. “I thought it was your will God,” I have cried in many ways. “I thought that was where you wanted me.” I thought I was fullfilling the purpose you gave me.” And then I read these words. “I have kept the faith.” And that’s enough. That’s more than enough.

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To keep the faith is to continue to grasp what God has already given. Because in truth nobody ‘earns the faith,’ we simply take hold of it, stand in it, and rest in it.

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.

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

– 2 Timothy 4:7

That’s it isn’t it. That is the ultimate goal. The most important thing in life. To keep the faith.