Let Us Look the Way He Looked
2 Timothy 4.6-8
{6} For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. {7} I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: {8} Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
There are three things that Paul was concerned about in this passage that he wrote just prior to his death.
He was concerned about:
1. His Christlikeness (v. 6)
2. His Course (v. 7)
3. His Crown (v. 8)
Let Us Look the Way He Looked:
I. When I Look Behind Me I See
1. A Past that is forgiven
(Col 2:13 KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Why do we dwell in the past? Why are we so fascinated with the past and with how it was in the good old days.
The past is wonderful, but can we change it? The only thing we can change is the future and our future is what we need to be focused upon.
2. A Path that’s forsaken
(Rom 6:4 KJV) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Have we forsaken the things that we used to do? Are their things in your life right now that you need to forsake?
3. A purpose that’s fulfilled:
(Acts 26:16 KJV) But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
Have you fulfilled or are working on the fulfillment of what you have been called to do in Christ Jesus?
Paul was looking back near the end of his life, and could see that he had fulfilled the calling Jesus had given him.
Christian, will you be able to say that your calling was fulfilled?
We need to live each day for Christ like it was our last here on this earth. Are you fulfilling your calling? Are you being true to Christ?
II. When I Look Before Me I See
1. A Cross I must Carry
(Luke 14:27 KJV) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
If you are truly living for Jesus, then you are carrying a cross. Now what that cross is for you I don’t know.
If you feel no sacrifice on your part for Christ, then you have dropped your cross.
What sacrifice lies before you?
2. A Cost I must Count
(Luke 14:28-30 KJV) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? {29} Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, {30} Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Have you counted the cost that you must pay to follow Christ? Are you ready willing and able to pay the price?
If you answered yes to that, are you doing it?
3. A Calling I must complete
READ VERSE 7
Have you fought a good fight? Yes—Wonderful…No—What do you need to change?
Have you finished your course? If not, How are you going to finish it?
Have you kept the faith? Yes—Wonderful…No—What do you need to change?
III. When I look Beyond me I see
1. The possibility of rapture
(1 Th 4:16-18 KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: {17} Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2. The probability of being rebuked
(1 Cor 3:11-15 KJV) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; {13} Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. {14} If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. {15} If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
3. The profit of being ready READ VERSE 6
Are you ready? Do you have a fear of death? Death for the Christian is not a thing to fear.
It is but a door to heaven. When you enter the door to your home do you feel safe? What about the door to heaven?
Shouldn’t we feel safe about that door opening and stepping through the threshold to glory?
