Death bed narratives are when people share their innermost feelings at the most vulnerable time of their lives. It is their last words and can be secrets they have held on to for their entire lives or it can be valuable advice or instruction to those whom they love so very much. I am suggesting that this may have been the case with Paul because he says: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
This was not going to be the end of him but his time on earth was soon coming to an end and he knew it.
Paul shares his innermost thoughts to Timothy (whom he sometimes referred to as a son). He is not bragging but he is laying out a sort of blueprint for not only a budding Pastor but for every Christian who desires to follow the Lord. There is sadness in his words to the extent that it expresses what he has been through but there is also much rejoicing because he knows for sure he has an eternal home in the Lord Jesus.
What about you my friends? What is your life story? Have you lived in such a way that you too can be sure of your eternal life with Jesus? If not, it is time to get serious about our faith and what we believe. Being a Christian is not about feeling nice at Church among friends and singing a few familiar hymns. The end goal is to stay faithful to the Lord and secure a place for ourselves in heaven.
We are also called to share the gospel story, not any other stories. Paul lays down the rules of how to do that both for a preacher and every aspiring believer like all of you as well. He begins by saying “: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and teaching. Sharing the word does not come easy. First of all one must know the word because you cannot share what you do not have yourself!
Let me ask – do you read your bibles every day? Are you familiar with the living word of God? Are you selective as to which things you are willing to obey and which you feel are not important? How often have you shared the word of God with someone? Are you proud to be a follower of Jesus or do you not mix your faith with friends or those you see on the street or grocery store?
We feed our bellies with food for the body but what about food for the soul? A lot of people aren’t too concerned about their souls. They come to Church or attend a bible study or revival somewhere and figure it is good enough. They may also love to listen to motivational speeches or a prosperity gospel or a feel good sermon but I say this lovingly, unless God’s word challenges us or draws us closer to him we are cheating ourselves.
Elsewhere the same Paul says we are to be imitators of God and no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk having a darkened understanding of his word. We are to put away lying and speak the truth and not let the sun go down on our wrath nor give place for the devil to sow his seed in our lives. He goes on to say, “those things that were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.”
Never settle for a shortcut to heaven or a watered down version of the gospel. Sometimes it is hard to hear the commandments of God and do what he expects us to do. But unless we pick up our cross and follow Him we will be eternally lost. We are in the last days and have to be wary of being lured into false teaching. In vs 3 and 4 Paul says: 3 For the time will come when they (meaning all of us) will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
That time has come and false teaching and doctrines have filled the lives of many who call themselves Christians. It is possible for many Christians to turn aside from the truth and to believe many fables. Church leaders have run amok and instead of being shepherds to their flock, they have fallen from Grace and brought shame to our faith. What about same sex marriages, gender mutilations and endorsing popular life styles that is incompatible with the gospel. There are other subtle things too.
For example, the other day I had a long conversation with one of my high school class mates. Much of it was about our Christian faith. He said he meets every week with a group who study the bible. One of them in the group is a Pastor. They have concordances and the Greek version of the bible and so on. Long story short, they do not believe there is a being or spiritual person called the devil.
I don’t know about you but if there is no Satan, no Lucifer, no deceiver, or no roaring lion who is contending for our soul, then why bother worshipping God at all? How can you fight a battle if you do not know who your enemy is? The deceiver has been doing a good job lately and we must be diligent to know the truth and cling to it. Many of us want to fight a full time devil with a part time faith. That strategy will never work out. It is not going to be easy but we must have our guard up and not be like sheep led to the slaughter. In vs 5 & 6 Paul says:
Be watchful in all things, endure afflictions and do the work of an evangelist.
Easier said than done – right? How many of you welcome afflictions? The truth is the Christian walk is not easy. It was never meant to be. It is not just about one beautiful spiritual experience after another. Mountain top experiences are great but what about the valleys? “Ye, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I
will fear no evil…” Remember that? Some see a lot more valleys that mountain tops. I am sure there are some of you here who feel like that. There are plenty of wonderful blessings in serving God but there are also many afflictions to be endured. It is Jesus who said, “in this world you will have tribulations but be of good comfort because I have overcome this world.”
This same Paul tells us first hand of his struggles in 2 cor 11 “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, which comes upon me daily; the care of all the churches.”
The truth is Life is full of problems – many of them will choke you – some of them will drag you away from the source of life and drown you in a life of sin but like Paul says “be watchful in all things and endure afflictions” in other words don’t succumb to them. Always remember, greater is the one who is in you than he who is in the world. Paul’s head was not on the executioner’s block yet, but his heart was already there. He was both ready and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Using his own words in vs 6 he says: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Most recently we saw that happen with Charlie Kirk. There may be a price to pay as a Christian but the truth is nothing is of greater value than our soul and even if death confronts us, it is better to face it with courage knowing that closing our eyes for the sake of the gospel means opening them right after in the presence of an eternal and loving God. Most of the disciples were martyred for their faith and now they sit on twelve thrones in heaven. I hope you too will live your life in such a way that heaven will become a reality to you.
The world measures success as someone who has made it in life. It is mostly about the attainment of material things especially money. In some cases it includes achievements like affluence, position and power. All of these may sound great but no one has been able to take anything with them beyond the grave. I am sure you heard this before but we have never seen a Uhaul truck at the cemetery! Having money in your pocket is nice but having the Lord in your heart is a million times better.
Paul tells us what success is and in vs. 7 & 8 he says: 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
I may have shared this before, but it may not hurt to hear it again. It is about the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
Half way through the 42 kilometer race the Tanzania runner Akhwari was hit by another runner causing him to fall. His knee was badly dislocated and his shoulder was hit hard against the pavement. Hobbling along, he continued running. The winner finished in 2 hours and 20 mins. Prizes were given out and the ceremony was coming to an end as people began leaving the stadium. Just then somebody brought word that it was not over because one more runner was soon to approach the finish line. The TV camera’s went back into action as the crowds cheered. Akhwari came in more than an hour after the winner. With bloody knees and all he crossed the finish line and fell to the ground. When interviewed and asked why he continued running he said "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me to finish it.
Likewise the Father never sent his son Jesus to us so that we can start the race. He sent him to us so that we can finish it. If you and I fight the good fight and keep the faith, we too can finish the race and receive our crown of righteousness. Friends, we don’t need to win the race, we just need to finish it. We are not competing with anyone; we are just running towards Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. I hope you are running to him and not away from him. What does it profit a man or woman to gain the whole world and lose their own soul.
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The second coming of Jesus is not a myth but a reality. He will come to take his children home and that is the beauty of being a Christian because this life is not all that there is. Paul was waiting and well prepared for his day and I hope you are too. Use whatever time we have left wisely. Stay true to the word and expose false teachings and be willing to suffer a bit if and when comes to us. It is only for a season because we will not be here forever.
A day will come when we too will have to leave. Making wise choices now will determine where we go. Cling on to Jesus my friends. He is both the author and finisher of our faith. He is all you will ever need. Amen.
