[Biblemat] S) FINAL WORDS FROM A SEASONED VETERAN

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

FINAL WORDS FROM A SEASONED VETERAN

     Second Timothy chapter four contains the final words 
penned by the venerable apostle to the Gentiles, words addre-
ssed to his beloved "son in the faith" (1 Tim. 1:2).  These
words are sobering, challenging and full of emotion.

A Charge To Keep: -- Paul's charge calls to witness God, Who
is also described as "the Lord Jesus Christ" and the One Who will judge us 
when He comes again to deliver the king-
dom unto the Father (1 Cor. 15:23,24).

     "Preach the Word."  Preaching here involves a solemn pro-
clamation as from a superior to his subjects.  The message
is serious, not trivial.  It is not conversational.  The messeng-
er is a herald, charged with delivering the news without em-
bellishment.  This is the Word of the King, the final Judge of 
all the earth.

     "In season and out of season" means when it is conven-
ient or inconvenient, when people like it and when they don't.
The messenger must stand ready at all times and under any
circumstance to deliver the proclamation.

     "Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering."  To  reprove means to 
convict.  Our business is not to amuse the
hearer, but to convince him of his sin and show him God's
remedy for it.  To rebuke means to expose the error in the
hearer's life and call upon him to change.  It is a strong word.
To exhort suggests an earnest  pleading and appeal to one's
better senses to comply for his own good.  All of this is to be
done with patience and longsuffering.  All will not immediate-
ly heed the message.  We cannot coerce them.  They must
be taught (Jno. 6:44,45).

     Sadly, there are those who do not want to hear the truth.
They prefer fables.  Fables are here placed in contrast to
"sound doctrine," a term Paul used numerous times to descri-
be that wholesomeness of doctrine which came from the mind of God.  Timothy, 
and all who preach the gospel now, 
will meet people who will flock to hear "smooth words and
fair speeches" and who will turn their ears from truth to fables.  Timothy 
was not to be surprised by this, nor should
we.

     "Make full proof of thy ministry."  This involves alertness.
Preachers need to stay informed and remain watchful.  There
are afflictions to be endured.  Oppostion will come.  You will
be misrepresented.  Your motives will be questioned.  "Endure hardness as a 
good soldier" (2 Tim. 2:3).  The Lord
never said it would always be easy.  Fully discharge the work
of an evangelist.  There is not place for the lazy here, or for 
the opportunist seeking self-glory.

A Reward To Anticipate: -- Paul was already being offered
(poured out as a drink offering).  The sentence of death hovered over him.  
Only the exact time of execution remained
Was he bitter?  Had it all been a waste?  By no means.  He
had "fought a good fight."  He had often employed military
imagery in describing the life of a Christian (Eph. 6:10-17; 2 Cor. 10:4,5; 1 
Tim. 6:12).  He had "finished the course."  This
is drawn from athletic contests, a figure which he also often
used (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  He had "kept the faith," a term that
would embody the whole gospel system to which he faithfully
adhered from the time of his conversion.  Of what advantage
was all of that?  There was "a crown of righteousness" await-
ing him and all who practice the same.  His labor was not in
vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58) nor would it be for Timothy and
for us.

Tying Up Loose Ends: -- "Come shortly."  "Come before wint-
er."  "Bring the cloak I left with Carpus."  Do this with diligen-
ce.  Paul is not situated as well as in his first imprisonment.
It is cold and damp.  Should his execution not take place be-
fore winter, he would need that cloak.  "Bring the books, esp-
ecially the parchments."  Whether these were copies of the
Old Testament and early copies of the gospel records, we do
not know.  But they were important to Paul.  Preachers should never stop 
studying.  Never.

     Paul was alone, except for Luke.  Titus and Crescens had 
been dispatched to other places.  Sadly, Demas had retreated
to the relative safety of Thessalonica, having "loved this pre-
sent world," you know, the one John later said we are "not" to love (1 Jno. 
2:15-17).

     "Bring Mark, for he is profitable to me for the ministry."
What a great lesson from a seasoned veteran.  Paul had been
unwilling to take Mark on the second preaching journey be-
cause he went home early on the first one.  Yet, this did not
embitter Paul or Barnabas toward each other, nor cause Paul
to fail to recognize the growth and usefulness of Mark later in
the work.  Do you think any of us could learn something from 
this?

     The final words: "The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit.
Grace be with you. Amen."   ----- Connie Adams in Biblical
Insights, Vol. 7, No. 4, April 2007.   </HTML>
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