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A paradox of preservation
2 Timothy 1:10-14
10 [God's own purpose and grace] now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
The tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is a paradox we see throughout scripture. By a paradox, I simply mean something that appears self-contradictory, absurd, and false, but is in fact true. When we approach this passage with the question, “Who will guard what God has entrusted to us?” — then we arrive at a paradox. For we see that Jesus Christ, the one “who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (v. 10) holds all the power necessary to guard this deposit. We trust that he will protect and preserve the ministry to which each of us has been appointed (v. 11). Paul had confidence that the churches he planted would continue strong even after his death. He knew that they were under the care of Jesus Christ, who knows best how to care for his own.
Yet we ourselves are responsible to guard this deposit (v. 14). We can’t simply “let go and let God.” This requires effort on our part — effort drawing on the strength of “the Holy Spirit who dwells within us” (v. 14). How do we guard our ministries? We “follow the pattern of the sound words” (v. 13) that we have been taught. We are not called to be doctrinal innovators but rather doctrinal preservers. By guarding the truth of Jesus Christ, we guard the source of our life. We are called to do this “in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (v. 13). We guard not with fierce words, impatience, and scorn, but in faith that Christ will preserve his own and in the love that he has for them.
It is critical to protect other believers from false teaching. The apostle James wrote, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). How thrilled we should be to stand on guard for one another’s soul! May God grant us this love and an unshakable trust that he will never forsake his children!
Entangled
2 Timothy 2:4
No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
A nice short verse to think about, but it’s been bouncing around in my head for the last few days. As believers, we’ve got to stay “on mission,” and we do a pretty poor job of it. One of the biggest challenges we face in Salt and Light is students who fill up their schedules with school, sports, work, and other “busyness” without setting aside time for prayer, the Word, discipleship, etc. In that respect, we’re no different from the rest of the church.
Why bother calling yourself a Christian if your actions show you don’t give a crap about Christ, his kingdom, and his church?
And it troubles me, too. The whole book of 2 Timothy paints a picture of a life of fearlessness and sacrifice, which lies in absurd contrast to my own. I think this is good in that it is developing in me a fear of entanglement — a fear that I may indulge myself in pursuits that lead me away from the straight and narrow, that blur the glory of our heavenward call, that pull my gaze away from Jesus Christ.
“Ever, only, all for Thee” — that’s how I need to live. I think it starts on a small level…not indulging myself during work by wasting time on the Internet, or other trifles. It’s a good place to begin. I’ve also been meaning to become a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters…to invest the love of Christ in the life of someone who has never received it before.
To all who have loved his appearing
2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
Will we love the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ? That future event is something only Christians can look forward to with eagerness. For the unbelieving world, it is not good news but bad news, as we read in the book of Revelation. When Christ comes, he will reward those who have been justified by his blood and sanctified by the Spirit. On that day, we will receive “the crown of righteousness” (v. 8). I wonder what that means. What is this crown? All we can know is that it is a treasure and prize of worth beyond what this world can offer. Paul devoted his life to the cause of the kingdom, and he eagerly awaited his reward.
May our eyes be fixed on the reward waiting for us! Above all, let us yearn for the day when Jesus will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)! How beautiful are those words!
Poured out as a drink offering
2 Timothy 4:5-8
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.
I found this to be a very moving appeal from Paul to Timothy. Paul knows that the time of his death is coming near. He has devoted his life to the cause of Christ, “being poured out as a drink offering” (v. 6). Does he regret this single-minded devotion? Does he believe that his life could have been spent better in other pursuits? No! Rather, he urges Timothy to imitate his zeal, no matter the cost.
A life of convenience and ease is nothing more than a drug. In the end, it leaves nothing but sorrow and regret to the sober-minded. The good fight, the finished race, and the kept faith are the life devoted solely to the Lord, no matter the inconvenience and risk. This week, I’m going to find a few hours to set aside to evaluate my own life — how it needs to change to escape the convenience that I’m afraid has ensnared me.
When the Word is out of season
2 Timothy 4:1-4
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Immediately following his affirmation that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable” for every aspect of a believer’s life (3:16-17), Paul explains why he is bringing this up. He looks into the future and sees a time when people have lost interest in the gospel and in the Word of God. “They will not endure sound teaching,” he says (v. 2) — whether they are bored by it, don’t find it relevant, or flat out dislike it. Their passions are not for the gospel that Paul treasures; rather, they would rather spend time hearing and discussing vain myths unsubstantiated by the Word.
Sadly, the harsh reality Timothy faced still remains today. The most popular teachers are not the ones who teach truth from the Bible; rather, they tell people what they want to hear — that God wants you to be rich; that the Christian life is about getting a better job and living a life of ease and comfort; that we can safely ignore Jesus’ call to reject the world, taking up our cross daily and following him. They are also the ones who value the latest philosophy and popular thinking over the Word of God.
Paul’s solution was not to repackage the Word into a convenient, consumerist form. It was not to update the gospel message to fit the culture. Rather, it was to persevere in doing more of the same: preaching the truth of God’s Word, regardless of whether it was “in season or out of season”; and patiently reproving, rebuking, and exhorting those who had gone astray (v. 2). Timothy was to be armed with the Word and to wield it expertly.
This is such an important ministry that Paul powerfully insists on it, saying, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom” (v. 1). Recently, I believe I have failed to properly prepare for opportunities to teach from the Word. This is such a serious ministry that I need to spend much more time studying, meditating, and above all, praying that the power of God would transform the lives of those who hear. May they see the true Christ in my teaching.
