Certainty

CERTAINTY

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8: “6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

I. DEPARTURE IS A CERTAINTY

A. I have fought the good fight- Many times life seems more like a fight than it does anything else. We

get knocked down and God helps us back up. We face health concerns, many times an uphill battle, but we go on. We face grief and we need help from God to continue.

B. I have finished the race- Chrissie has run her course. She has lived her life and now it is done. This

happens to all of us. Scripture describes for us in many different places that life is a race and we are to

run it with all our might. Yet, there is a finish line and that line is death.

C. I have kept the faith- Chrissie was faithful until the end. She was a church just the Sunday before

she died. She prayed. She listened. She sang. She kept her faith close until the finish line was upon her and it was time to be done.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-25: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

JAMES 1:12: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

II. REWARD IS A CERTAINTY

A. The crown of righteousness is in store.

B. Heaven is awaiting all those who trust in the Lord as their Savior.

C. Family and friends await.

JOHN 14:1-4: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

CONCLUSION WITH POEM AND PRAYER… “I’m Free” by Unknown

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free, I’m following the path God has laid you see.

I took His hand when I heard him call, I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day, To laugh, to love, to work, to play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found that peace at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, Oh yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full, I savored much, Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief, Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your hearts and peace to thee, God wanted me now; He set me free.