2 Timothy 2:1-13
When the going gets tough… Remember Jesus!
If you were in jail and on death row, what sort of letter would you write to encourage someone else to keep doing what you did to get where you are?
This second letter to Timothy is just that. The last recorded letter from the man who probably baptized and certainly built up Timothy in the Christian faith. At the time of writing this Paul’s days are numbered. It is a dangerous thing to be close to Paul at this point in his life. He writes Timothy telling him to come. Twice in chapter four he says, make every effort to come soon. And make every effort to come before winter.
He mentions many who have deserted him. In fact, in chapter 1:15 he says, “All
Asia has turned away from me!” He also mentions those who remained loyal: Onesiphorus and Luke particularly. When you are in big trouble, you find out who your true friends are. Paul writes Timothy as more than a friend, he calls him a son.
In the first three verses of this second chapter Paul gives Timothy three instructions and in the next three verses he gives him three illustrations.
Be strong in the grace
Teach faithful teachers who will teach others
Suffer hardship with me
Soldiers are loyal in suffering service
Athletes who win compete by the rules
Farmers work hard to reap the rewards
Think about these things.
Paul loves Timothy and he must know the pressure that Timothy faces partly because of his relationship to Paul the prisoner. Why do you think people are abandoning Paul? They abandon him because he is Paul the jailbird. He’s Paul the guy on death row. Paul who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and it finally got him into a death trap! Everywhere he goes he stirs up trouble and now trouble has finally caught up with him in a big way. Paul knows that Timothy is tempted to be ashamed of him. 1: 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner; but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, and 12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Do you get the idea that there is a temptation to be ashamed of Paul in this condition? Even here, on death row, listen to the confidence of this man in chapter 4: 16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
How does a man who is about to be killed say such things? He’s either crazy or he’s right. I’m convinced he’s right! In Philippians Paul practically says, “Go ahead, make my day! Let me die and go on to be with Christ which is far better! But, I have more work yet to do here, so I must stay on for a while…”
Let me ask you something. Do you know of anyone that talks like that today? Is there anyone who is this anxious to go on and be with the Lord? For me to live is Christ, to die is gain!
Listen again to his charge to Timothy:
Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Teach the true message of faith to faithful men who will teach others.
Suffer hardship together with me like a soldier of Christ Jesus.
Think carefully about his illustrations:
1. Soldiers don’t lose their focus-
Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the lamb, and shall I fear to own his cause or blush to speak his name?
Must I be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas?
Sure I must fight if I would reign, increase my courage Lord! I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, supported by thy word!
2. Athletes who win must play by the rules-
Who is your favorite football player? (Ask one of the boys). Is he the one on the bench or on the field? Just imagine coming to greatness in football by sitting on the bench through the greatest winning season of all time. No, that doesn’t make a good athlete. Also, one that can’t keep the rules can’t make the cut either. Cheating in the games is frowned upon. So it is with the Christian! We must train and work and go by the rules! That also assumes that we understand the rules.
3. Farmers who work hard get the first share of the crops-
This is the landowner. Today’s CEO. Lazy landowners don’t get ahead. I heard about a very successful farmer who’s grand kids came to visit for a few days. The kids all wanted to go out and work the fields with grammpa. He tried to persuade them that they wouldn’t like it, but they persisted. Finally, he agreed to let them come, but on the condition that they would not quit till quitting time. They were excited! Early in the morning everyone woke up to breakfast and before the sun came up they were all on their way to the fields. By mid morning everyone was wet with sweat and the sun was beginning to get hot. But they all remembered the rule of grammpa and they kept on working. By noon everyone was ready for a lunch break. They all sat under a tree and ate their food with joy and gladness of heart, but also secretly wishing they could go home. Lunch was over and back to the fields they all went. In the early afternoon a rain cloud came over and it began to pour. “Grammpa! I guess this means we will have to go home, huh?” Said several tired voices. “Oh, no… this will pass, we’ve still got a lot to do yet,” he replied. And they worked on through the rain, which finally stopped. The sun came back out and finally began to set. As the sunset decorated the west, grammpa finally gave the signal that it was time to go home. Everyone rejoiced. Tired and weary, each one loaded up and rode home. As they all gathered for supper, grammpa told them that he was proud of them for their work. Then he gave them this secret. “The reason this farm has been successful is that we always stayed in the field.” We never quit till quitting time. God has blessed us because we always stayed in the field!
The hard working farmer reaps the harvest because he doesn’t quit. He patiently works and waits till God brings the blessing of harvest.
What is God telling you and me through these words? This is a call to persevere! God wants us to stand up and stand strong! Where do we go for strength today? What will others be like who follow us? Will we endure trials like a good soldier or will we avoid suffering like a coward? God’s way is not easy, but it holds out a glorious eternal end!
Paul now plays his trump card, stated in the next three verses: 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
Listen to those first two words again… Remember Jesus.
Remember Jesus.
Remember Jesus.
Here is where the strength of grace lies. Here is the heart of the faithful message that must be taught and passed on to others. Here is the reason to endure any suffering. Remember Jesus! If we die with him we live with him. If we endure, we reign with him, if we deny him he will deny us! If we are faithless, he is faithful! He cannot deny himself! Let us be like him! Remember Jesus!
